LA Galaxy Starting XI

Dan Kennedy; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, A.J. DeLaGarza, Ashley Cole; Sebastian Lletget, Nigel de Jong, Steven Gerrard, Gyasi Zardes; Robbie Keane ©, Giovani dos Santos

Subs

Brian Rowe, Dave Romney, Rafael Garcia, Baggio Husidic, Emmanuel Boateng, Mike Magee, Ariel Lassiter

Lineup Notes

In the opening match of the 2016 MLS season against D.C. United, head coach Bruce Arena will adjust the starting lineup to fill in defender Jelle Van Damme, who is not at 100% after picking up a knock this week. The Galaxy’s starting lineup Sunday features seven players that weren’t on the roster for the 2015 MLS opener: Dan Kennedy, Daniel Steres, Ashley Cole, Sebastian Lletget, Steven Gerrard, Nigel De Jong and Giovani dos Santos.

All-American goalkeeper Dan Kennedy starts in net for the Galaxy, making his MLS debut for LA. The goalkeeper is set to make his 159 th MLS start after joining the league in 2005 and featuring for Chivas USA and FC Dallas.

MLS start after joining the league in 2005 and featuring for Chivas USA and FC Dallas. Defender Robbie Rogers starts at his new position of right back Sunday against D.C. United, making the switch from the left side. After making the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, the Galaxy have gone 24-9-12 in all MLS competitions in which Rogers appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the MLS Cup Final.

Former LA Galaxy II defender Daniel Steres will make his MLS debut Sunday against D.C. United, starting in central defense. Steres signed a first team contract this offseason after being named the LA Galaxy II Defender of the Year over the past two seasons and leading Los Dos to the 2015 USL Championship match in their second season. Steres is also a three-time All-USL Defender.

The Galaxy’s longest-tenured player, A.J. DeLaGarza, gets the start in central defense alongside Steres. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Galaxy in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and has become one of the most consistent and versatile defenders in MLS since, making 180 MLS appearances for the Galaxy.

On the left side of defense, Englishman Ashley Cole will make his LA Galaxy MLS debut. The left back will look to start the 2016 season strong after joining the team in late January. He returns to the starting XI after missing Tuesday’s SCCL match against Santos Laguna due to the birth of his son.

Selfie-loving midfielder Sebastian Lletget returns to the starting XI Sunday against D.C. United after fully-recovering from a slight injury this offseason. ‘Da Boy became a crucial player for the Galaxy after joining mid-year from West Ham last season, and is really good at both Instagram and scoring goals.

English legend Steven Gerrard will occupy the center of the midfield for the Galaxy on Sunday night. He enters his first full season in MLS after joining the Galaxy in July of 2015. Stevie G will look to build on the 2015 year that saw him register two goals and three assists in half a season.

Midfielder Nigel de Jong makes his MLS debut tonight against D.C. United. The talented midfielder has featured for Ajax, Manchester City and A.C. Milan in addition to two World Cups with the Netherlands throughout his career and will look to link up with Steven Gerrard in the center to help the Galaxy dictate play.

Mexican superstar Giovani dos Santos starts up and will look to link up with Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes to get the Galaxy off to a fast start. The Minion-loving attacker joined in the fall of last year and notched three goals and five assists in 10 MLS appearances.

Fresh off a multi-year contract extension, Homegrown Player Gyasi Zardes makes the start up top. In 2015, the Hawthorne product broke on the USMNT scene and had a solid MLS season, scoring six goals and notching four assists, a year after a record-setting season with the Galaxy in 2014.

Absurdly-handsome Galaxy captain Robbie Keane will once again look to do what he does best: score goals in bunches. The striker begins 2016 after improving in each season in Major League Soccer, most-recently scoring a career-high 20 MLS goals in 2015. He is approaching 100 goals in all competitions with the LA Galaxy, currently having scored 94 goals in just 143 appearances in all competitions, on pace to become the fastest to score 100 goals of any MLS player.

Game Notes

The Galaxy’s 2016 MLS Regular Season opening match will mark the 42nd time that the Galaxy have faced D.C. United in the MLS Regular Season, and the third time that the clubs will face each other in the opening game of the season.

In 20 matches against D.C. United at home all time, the Galaxy have gone 10-5-5, scoring 31 goals while allowing 19.

The Galaxy are 2-1-2 in their previous five meetings against United and are 13-6-1 in their 20 previous home openers.

In the previous two seasons, the Galaxy have only lost three MLS games at StubHub Center.

The Galaxy’s home MLS record over the past three seasons is 35-5-11, scoring 117 and allowing just 38.

The Galaxy’s 117 total MLS goals at home during the past three seasons are the most in MLS.

Galaxy offseason transactions

TRANSACTIONS (IN): GK Dan Kennedy (trade from Dallas); GK Clément Diop (USL); DF Daniel Steres (USL); DF Jeff Larentowicz (free agent); FW Mike Magee (free agent); FW Emmanuel Boateng (free); DF Jelle Van Damme (free); DF Ashley Cole (free); DF Nigel de Jong (free)

TRANSACTIONS (OUT): DF Todd Dunivant (retired); FW Edson Buddle (option declined); DF Tommy Meyer (option declined); GK Brian Perk (option declined); GK Donovan Ricketts (option declined); FW Charlie Rugg (option declined); MF Mika Vayrynen (option declined); MF Kenney Walker (option declined); GK Andrew Wolverton (option declined); DF Omar Gonzalez (transferred to Pachuca); MF Juninho (transferred to Club Tijuana); DF Dan Gargan (waived); F Ignacio Maganto (waived)

Storylines

Can the Galaxy bounce back from a midweek loss to Santos Laguna in Mexico?

How will the Galaxy start off the 2016 season after a busy offseason?

How will the Galaxy’s new pieces factor into Sunday’s game?

Can the Galaxy find the same success Sunday at StubHub Center as in previous seasons?

How will Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes and Giovani dos Santos combine to create chances?

Will it rain?

What to watch for

Match preview: //www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/03/04/match-preview-la-galaxy-ready-kick-2016-mls-season-against-dc-united

Pretty slick match poster: //www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/02/26/la-galaxy-unveil-2016-mls-home-opener-commemorative-match-poster

The Galaxy and Gio dos Santos dedicated a new mini-pitch at a local elementary school: //www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/03/04/la-galaxy-and-giovani-dos-santos-unveil-soccer-mini-pitch-santa-ana-elementary?autoplay=true

Galaxy ranked as most ambitious club in MLS by Grant Wahl: //www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/03/04/la-galaxy-top-sports-illustrateds-ambition-rankings-insider

This will make life easier – Galaxy become first MLS and LA team to partner with Uber: //www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/02/28/robbie-rogers-found-new-home-and-new-life-los-angeles-neighborhood-west-hollywood

This Is LA: //www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/02/04/la-our-city-our-home?autoplay=true

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