There’s plenty at stake when D.C. United hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy. Here are 10 things to know about D.C. United’s biggest West Coast rivalry.
1. The latest matchup between the two most successful clubs in Major League Soccer history will be their only meeting in 2015. D.C. United is unbeaten in five of its last six clashes (2-1-3) with the Galaxy at RFK Stadium, including a 2-2 draw in the most recent encounter in 2013.
2. Reigning MLS Cup champions, the Galaxy may be the first team with five titles, but D.C. United still has the edge in overall trophies: 13-12.
3. D.C. United has met Los Angeles in the MLS Cup final twice, and won both times.
4. Bruce Arena is the longest tenured coach in MLS with a single team, having taken over the Galaxy in 2008. Ben Olsen is third – he’s also the longest serving coach in D.C. United history.
5. More on Ben Olsen? Of course. He was Man of the Match when United toppled the Galaxy, 2-0, in the 1999 MLS Cup final.
6. Landon Donovan won’t be a part of the latest D.C.-L.A. matchup. Hopefully, the retired star will be relaxing at home in his RFK Stadium chair after a paddleboard session.
7. Donovan’s words last year: “I would say that the D.C. crowd has probably, over the course of the first years of the league until now, had the truest real fan base that was exciting to play in front of.” We agree.
8. Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes set the record for goals by a Homegrown player in 2014 with 16. Not bad. Last year, United goalkeeper Bill Hamid set career highs with 10 shutouts and 110 saves, became the first Homegrown player to reach 100 games and the first to be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, and earned his first all-star nod.
9. David Beckham made his regular season Galaxy debut in 2007 at RFK Stadium in front of 46,686 fans. We’re just saying, Steven Gerrard.
10. There are currently four Maryland Terrapins between the two rosters – Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza and Robbie Rogers for the Galaxy and Taylor Kemp in the Black-and-Red. There’s also one Georgetown Hoya – L.A.’s Dan Gargan.
Kickoff is at 7:00 at RFK. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
