Happy July 4th everyone, what a great day where we can celebrate our countries independence and enjoy a great game of soccer.

My family has figured out the best way to celebrate the 4th of July and we have successfully managed it for 4 consecutive years now, each year we get a little smarter.

This year, we went to an online website and bought season tickets from a season ticket holder who found something better to do that night.  With the season ticket, you can get into the restaurant if you make reservations (which we did last minute) and we were so pleasantly surprised!  What a great buffet and you get hyped for the upcoming game as well.  The staff was so gracious and the food was plentiful and tasty..okay, enough about the food...

So I read up on the game ahead of time and it seems that the Galaxy's 1st string Goal Keeper was injured, which left them a 2nd string GK and a 3rd string GK. The 2nd string GK had received a red card in a previous game (I am assuming you understand the game of Soccer), which left the green 22 year old 3rd string GK to start and play the entire game, Brian Perk @perk89.   The Galaxy was playing Seattle who was and still is in second place to Los Angeles, so this was a big game!

You could sense the nervousness of the fans in the air; how was Perk going to play?  His first challenge was a penalty kick if you could believe that!  Couldn't have scripted this better if I was writing a movie...anyway, as you know with defending a goal kick, the GK has to make their best guess at where the ball is going to be kicked.  The ball was kicked, Perk chose to defend right, the kick was to the right, HE SAVED THE GOAL!  The first one of his professional career.........really, not making this up. 

The rest of the game was more of the same, save after save, until ultimately the game ended in a 0-0 draw adding to the winning streak of 10 to make the total 11 straight wins!  But this did not come without a price, after a shot to the head, AJ DeLaGarza eventually had to be carried off the field in a stretcher, then Gonzalez, late in the game had issues with his back and he was taken out of the game.

With 22 minutes left, David Beckham came in, the crowd gets so excited when he plays, but not much there besides adjusting his headband throughout the remainder of the game (reminded me of Sasha V!)...he helps mainly with the referee's who gave him a gift at one point, but the Galaxy could not benefit from it, so a tie it is, I will take it!

Here is the full story: http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2011/07/recap-perk-shines-debut-galaxy-draw-sounders 

Fireworks capped off the night, and the ride home was about an hour (not too bad).  The husband can't understand why the Home Depot Center can't figure out how to direct traffic so people can get to the darn freeway faster, have to agree with him...

Honestly one of the best bargains in Los Angeles, if you haven't yet, you must go to a Galaxy game, if only to listed to the ACB cheer squad compete with the Galaxians with their chants, dances and songs. My favorite: Na na na na, na na na na na, Elllaaaayyyy (LA) Galaxy (accent on the "X").

Add Comment