Two clubs chasing CONCACAF Champions League glory will do battle today in a cup match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Club Tijuana. The quarterfinal clash scheduled for 10 p.m. ET will be held at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles and can be live streamed here. Additional TV coverage can be found on Fox Soccer Plus.
Tonight’s crucial series is more than just a battle between a Mexican and United States-based club. This is a battle of the border. Separated by just 150 miles, the land in between the two cities has been the backdrop for an intense scouting war. Paul Arriola—a 19-year-old who used to feature in the Galaxy academy—views this series as the beginning of something special (h/t to Scott French on MLS’s official website). “I think this is something that is just the beginning of a derby that will go on for a while between LA and Tijuana,” Arriola said. “I'm looking forward to playing against the people that I used to practice with, that I used to train with, that I'm very familiar with.”
This tournament is something the Galaxy are “very familiar with.” Will their experience be enough to carry them past Tijuana, or will Los Xolos land the first blow?
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Player to Watch: Club Tijuana’s Herculez Gomez made his breakthrough with the Galaxy nearly a decade ago. The American forward is appreciative of the opportunities the club provided him (h/t to Scott French on MLS’s official website). “The Galaxy is near and dear to my heart, because they opened the doors to me in my professional career and they gave me a chance when I wanted to continue or when I wanted to start this career of mine,” Gomez said. “I have so many great memories.”
He’ll look to make another memory as the enemy in the first leg of this series.
Los Angeles Galaxy’s Projected Lineup (4-4-2): Penedo; Riley, Leonardo, González, DeLaGarza; Donovan, Sarvas, Juninho, Zardes; Friend, Keane
Club Tijuana’s Projected Lineup (5-3-2): Saucedo; Gandolfi, Pellerano, Nuñez, Castillo, Castro; Crespin, Toledo, Güemez; Ayovi, Gomez
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