New York City FC vs. LA Galaxy | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

New York City FC vs. LA Galaxy
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 2
Yankee Stadium – The Bronx
5:00 pm ET – March 11, 2018
WATCH: MLS LIVE

Two teams from opposite coasts who have a proven track record of playing attractive, attacking soccer meet in the Bronx Sunday afternoon to close out Week 2 as New York City FC, fresh off an impressive 2-0 win at Sporting Kansas City, face the LA Galaxy, who knocked off the Portland Timbers, 2-1, to open the 2018 season.

New York City FC

It was almost a perfect way to open the season for an NYCFC team tabbed as an MLS Cup contender. Maxi Moralez and Jesus Medina scored in each half as Patrick Vieira’s squad took its chances and dominated the midfield. They also withstood a push by Sporting KC in the second half to keep the clean sheet.

The one negative is the straight red card given to Maxime Chanot two minutes from full time. Center back is a position NYCFC lacked depth in last year and Vieira will already be pressed to make a change due to that suspension.

Suspended: Maxime Chanot
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: F - Jo Inge Berget (quad)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Sean Johnson — Anton Tinnerholm, Sebastien Ibeagha, Alexander Callens, Ben Sweat — Alex Ring, Yangel Herrera — Jesus Medina, Maxi Moralez, Rodney Wallace — David Villa

Notes: David Villa has scored three goals against the Galaxy since coming to MLS, tied for his second-most against any Western Conference team. … NYCFC lost just two home games all of last season. However, they went winless in their final three home games (1L-2D) ... City never conceded more than two goals at home last year.

LA Galaxy

The Galaxy put a disastrous 2017 behind them and impressed in a 2-1 win over the Timbers Sunday at StubHub Center. Ola Kamara struck on his debut in the 32nd minute and Romain Alessandrini added a second goal two minutes later. There were also chances to tack onto the lead, as Sigi Schmid’s side pushed the tempo on both sides of the ball.

As was the case for NYCFC, the victory wasn’t perfect. LA conceded in the second half to provide some nervy moments and Alessandrini went off injured, though Schmid said it is not as serious as initially feared.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Romain Alessandrini (right hamstring)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: David Bingham — Rolf Feltscher, Michael Ciani, Jorgen Skjelvik, Ashley Cole — Jonathan dos Santos, Perry Kitchen — Sebastian Lletget, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng — Ola Kamara

Notes: Romain Alessandrini has scored 14 goals for the Galaxy since joining before the 2017 season. No other player has more than six … The Galaxy went winless in their last nine road games last year (7L-2D), after starting the season with a road record of 4W-2L-1D.

All-Time Series

Overall: NYCFC 2 wins, 4 goals … LA Galaxy 1 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
At New York City: NYCFC 1 wins, 1 goals … LA Galaxy 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
Last meeting at New York City: NYCFC 1, LA Galaxy 0 (August 20, 2016)