T-180 minutes to kickoff: I wanted to start this play-by-play with a little bio on the man behind the TV show Hell's Kitchen, Mr. Gordon Ramsay. Ramsay would have been a staple for Rangers' success in Scotland, had it not been for a cruciate ligament playing squah while injuring his knees as a teenager for nonleague Oxford United.

Eventually, Ramsay settled down as a specialist in French cuisine. Work at ski resorts and private yachts led to the opening of his first fully-owned restaurant in 1998, the Michelin three-star Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road. From there, he opened other restaurants worldwide: Petrus in London, Glasgow's Amaryllis, Gordon Ramsay's at Claridge's in Mayfair, Gordon Randsay at Conrad Tokyo and Cerise in Japan, Dubai's Verre, New York City's Gordon Ramsay at the London, and Boxwood in Los Angeles.

I mention this because he will be participating in this week's Celebrity game prior to tonight's proceedings. What a great chef and entrepreneur, to go with a wonderful person. Kickoff was at 5:09 p.m. PT.

T-120: Now that we have that out of the way, we now return you to the next episode of the Buddlevan Connection. This week: the revenge tour. Real Salt Lake is in town tonight, and you can expect Bruce Arena's G's to remind Jason Kreis's club that 2009's moment of glory is done and dusted.

T-115: It's Grand Prix Weekend down in my part of the county. I hope my friend Dario wins it. Because he has a super mega car, drives to fast, drives too flash...and you know the rest.

T-114: Other games going on in MLS today include Seattle Sounders vs. Eastern Conference leader Kansas City Wizards, Houston Dynamo vs. Chivas USA, DC United vs. Chicago, New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas, and San Jose vs. New England. Earlier this week, Toronto FC defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1. Tomorrow, they host the Colorado Rapids.

T-112: Seattle defeated Kansas City 1-0 and Houston bounced back with a 3-0 thumping of Chivas USA. Right now,

T-110: Oh yes, and if Danica wins...the world has ended. Back to the game. A thriller for Real the last time they hit the field...in US Open Cup play they had to go the distance, winning on penalties. So now, lo and behold, they have started a new winning streak of their own. See you next spot kick lottery.

T-105: Edson Buddle led the league with five goals heading into this weekend's set of matches.

T-100: Los Angeles's next three matches include a road test at CommunityAmerica Ballpark against the Wizards on April 24, the first-ever meeting with the Union at Home Depot Center on May 1, and a May 5 trip to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids.

T-95: For Real Salt Lake, the next three matches include an April 24 road trip to Columbus, and a couple home ties with Toronto FC on May 1 and Philadelphia on May 8.

T-90: Here are the line-ups.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Manager: Bruce Arena
Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond
Colors: White tops with blue and gold accents, white shorts, white socks

1 Donovan Ricketts

28 Sean Franklin ----20 A.J. de La Garza ---- 4 Omar Gonzalez ---- 2 Todd Dunivant

26 Michael Stephens

11 Chris Birchall ---- 19 Juninho

18 MIke Magee

14 Edson Buddle ---- 10 Landon Donovan (C)

Substitutes:
12 Josh Saunders GK
16 Gregg Berhalter DEF
88 Alex Cazumba DEF
9 Jovan Kirovski MID
7 Chris Klein MID
21 Alan Gordon FWD
27 Bryan Jordan FWD

REAL SALT LAKE
Manager: Jason Kreis
Formation: 4-4-2
Colors: Burgundy tops with blue sleeves and yellow collars, burgundy shorts, burgundy socks

18 Nick Rimando

2 Tony Beltran ---- 6 Nat Borchers ---- 4 Jamison Olave ---- 3 Robbie Russell

8 Will Johnson

5 Kyle Beckerman (C) ---- 77 Andy Williams

22 Nelson Gonzalez

15 Alvaro Saborio ---- 7 Fabian Espindola

Substitutes:
24 Kyle Reynish GK
30 Rauwshan McKenzie DEF
12 Jean Alexandre MID
21 Luis Gil MID
26 Collen Warner MID
10 Robbie Findley FWD
19 Pable Campos FWD

Javier Morales

T-80: 80 minutes to kickoff. Our match official today is Mark Geiger. Linesmen are Greg Barkey and Jeff Hosking, and our fourth official today is Kevin Stott.

T-54: More final scores...Chicago beat DC United 2-0 and the New York Red Bulls beat FC Dallas 2-1.

T-44: Fans filing in. I will lay this prediction: the combined team of the four home associations will medal at London 2012.

T-21: Alvaro Saborio is my player to watch for RSL tonight. I expect the Costa Rican international to have a great game tonight on a pitch he is familiar with as a member of Los Ticos.

T-19: Forecast is clear, with some clouds and a temperature of 66 degrees. Just glad that the mess from Iceland hasn't reached this part of the world yet.

T-17: The series so far between the G's and RSL is five wins for LA, five for Real Salt Lake and five draws. This is a very competitive series. Real Salt Lake's supporters are led by a group called The Loyalists. Other groups in Rio Tinto Stadium's South Stand include the Rogue Cabaliers Brigade, Section 26, La Barra Real and The Royal Pride.

T-10: Parade of Champions going on.

T-6: Early on between San Jose and New England, scoreless in the first half.

T-0: National anthem by the a capella octet One Accord. We'll be at half-capacity for this one. Great rendition.

FIRST HALF START: 7:37 P.M.

1' - And we are underway. LA starts by taking it in their third. Oooh, that was trouble for Rimando. Corner.

2' - Good clearance by the Filipino-American Nick Rimando, first Fil-Am to play on a MLS Cup winning side. At least in my memory.

3' - Rimando has had to do some work today. Warning shot from Edson Buddle.

4' - Here's Donovan Ricketts, and that was an interesting clearance from him. A chance for Fabian Espindola, but that is offside. Goal kick.

5' - Here's Nelson Gonzalez, and that is wide left.

6' - Jason Kreis has to be breathing a huge sigh of relief to escape that shootout at Buck Shaw earlier this week.

7' - Here's LA, testing the RSL defense in their own third. Not bad. Now here comes the counter. Free kick for Will Johnson.

8' - No problem for the defense. The Galaxy go on the attack. Little brush against the G's, says Mark Geiger.

9' - Nelson Gonzalez, formerly of Argentina Primera Division side Quilmes, is dangerous in his part of the attacking third, and the white shirts had to mark him.

10' - No goal for Real Salt Lake, offsides on Saborio. But that's what he can do when he has space.

11' - Beltran was wise to give up the corner. Donovan takes it.

12' - GOAL! 14 Edson Buddle Assist: 10 Landon Donovan
And so the Buddlevan Connection continues, and along with it, Edson's audition for the MNT. His sixth goal of the season. Can't draw it up any better. Great kick, great positioning, clinical finish.

12' - Here comes LA again...RSL now on the heels.

13' - Another corner. This time, Nat Borchers marks Buddle. If at first you don't succeed, defend and defend again.

15' - Free kick for Donovan. Cleared, and a corner. Boy, the G's have been racking up their chances. Riot Squad lifts their custom-made scarves.

16' - Missed finishing off the delivery still leaves more to be desired from the white Soca Warrior Chris Birchall.

17' - Halftime at Buck Shaw, and it's scoreless between the Earthquakes and Revolution.

19' - Good dispossession from Andy Williams. Sean Franklin with the touch. Magee with the wasted chance inside.

20' - Here comes Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams. A.J. De La Garza needed to dispossess that one. Corner for Real. Robbie Russell, the culprit behind the game-winning spot kick last November, is marked. All clockwork.

21' - Andy Williams's presence has allowed Real to earn its share of possession in the attacking third.

22' - We are 22 minutes into the match, and it's 1-0 Los Angeles off an Edson Buddle goal.

23' - Buddle couldn't get to that pass inside LA's attacking third.

24' - RSL on the move once again, but Sean Franklin is there to stop the shot by Espindola.

25' - Another chance for Birchall. He would love one for the land of the steel drums, wouldn't he, the No. 11. Nat Borchers is there again

26' - Rimando had to come off his line for this. Juninho is fouled by RSL captain Kyle Beckerman. No card on that one. Geiger playing a loose ship.

27' - Free kick for Landon. Too far for anyone, and the throw-in doesn't amount to much.


28' - Here's Russell. Fox Soccer Channel's commentators are raving about the matchup between Omar Gonzales and Alvaro Saborio. Omar seems to be holding Saborio well.

30' - Free kick for LA, Todd Dunivant to take. And once again, Nat Borchers is there.

31' - A grab for the Big Cat from Kingston, and a goal kick.

32' - Buddle's pace sure is trumping last year's effort. No ligament problems so far. Jamison Olave is down. Pulled his muscle a bit, but he is up. A little push of the fibers by the team therapist never hurt no one.

33' - Good clearance from De La Garza. Here's Juninho, now it's Sean Franklin, and that header by Donovan missed badly.

34' - For the first time, the boo birds are in full force. This is a pattern. The Galaxy get the first goal, but they struggle to get the second soon after. More improvements needed in the finishing

35' - Corner for the G's. Take two after Buddle got jammed by Espindola. And Johnson heads that away. Six corners this half alone so far for Los Angeles.

36' - Offsides Galaxy.

37' - Rimando asks for his players to push forward for the goal kick. Franklin shaken up. No worries.

38' - And this is not good news. Sean Franklin is in a lot of pain. He gets up, though.

40' - Corner for Real.

40' - GOAL! Real Salt Lake 5 Kyle Beckerman

That was laid out for him. Here the G's did not do well in the clearance from the Nelson Gonzalez corner, and it's all square at one goal a piece. Talk about a capitalized opportunity.

42' - Now Magee seems to be shaken up...we have a substitution on the way.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 27 Bryan Jordan
OUT 28 Sean Franklin

43' - Nelson Gonzalez gets a knock. The physical play shows itself here in this part of the half.

44' - 57th minute, San Jose leads 1-0. Chris Wondolowski gets opens his account.

45' - Two minutes of stoppage time, says Kevin Stott.

45' + 2' - Egadniks! That was trouble. Beckerman looking for a brace. The whistle blows.

Well, Mike Magee was the hero for the G's in the last meeting, can he do it again?

Halftime Stats...

Shots:
Real Salt Lake 2
Los Angeles Galaxy 7

Shots on Goal:
Real Salt Lake 1
Los Angeles Galaxy 1

Saves:
Real Salt Lake 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Fouls:
Real Salt Lake 5
Los Angeles Galaxy 6

Corner Kicks:
Real Salt Lake 2
Los Angeles Galaxy 6

Offsides:
Real Salt Lake 1
Los Angeles 0

SECOND HALF START: 8:40 P.M.

46' - Off we go. 1-1 scoreline so far. Franklin suffered a left heel sprain and is listed as day to day. 71st minute by Ike Opara makes it 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes.

47' - For Real Salt Lake, the Beckerman equalizer gives the visitors fresh wind in their sails. LA not doing well in the transition. They are a goal-every-45-minute-team, RSL is.

48' - Rimando takes that one.

49' - Goal kick for Ricketts, and Los Angeles pushes. Buddle is triple-marked, but there is a player down, and Beckerman pushes his weight around on Mike agee. It's Olave on the turf.

52' - Andy Williams fell on his own man in the Buddle mark.

53' - Olave is up though, and here is RSL again. Corner for Los Angeles. They tried to take a page out of the Beckerman equalizer. Didn't do well.

55' - Harsh challenge. A card.

Yellow card 77 Andy Williams
Real Salt Lake

56' - Out of position on the free kick. Great marking. The Real back line, doing the work.

57' - Corner for Los Angeles. Number eight. And the G's are one-for-eight on their chances.

58' - Russell resets for Real Salt Lake, but Ricketts is there. Wide cross.

59' - What a save from Nick Rimando. Best of the night. Another one. And another one. Goal kick. Impressive keeping.

Substitution Real Salt Lake

IN 10 Robbie Findley
OUT 7 Fabian Espindola

60' - The Galaxy still haven't been crisp in the transition this half. Borchers clears that one for a corner. And that is stopped.

61' - Mike Magee is wondering when he will figure out when he will get his touch back. He won't get the love from Mark Geiger here.

62' - Both teams are looking to get the go-ahead in their own respective attacking thirds.

63' - ROugh challenge, says Geiger

Yellow card 27 Bryan Jordan
Los Angeles Galaxy

Substitution Real Salt Lake
IN 26 Collen Warner
OUT 22 Nelson Gonzalez

That chance RSL is blow up; goal kick.

64' - Here comes Real. Now they go on the possession heist, accelerating the pace. A shot by Findley hits the post. And another by Saborio goes over the crossbar, albeit offside.

66' - Side netting from Buddle. Gracious, they have had their chances here, both Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles.

68' - Final from Buck Shaw Stadium: San Jose Earthquakes 2, New England Revolution 0.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy:
IN 88 Alex Cazumba
OUT 18 Mike Magee

69' - RSL back on the attack. The crowd asks for a foul on Findley. None given.

71' - Another challenge, and a throw-in for Real Salt Lake. Both teams displaying physical tackling on the ball.

72' - Beckerman complaining to the ref about a foul on RSL. Set piece nonetheless for Los Angeles. And that header goes wide for Omar Gonzalez.

73' - Wait...did I just hear a reference to the mythical Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? Gee whiz. Header for Saborio misses. Goal kick for Ricketts.

74' - The lack of finishing is worth cringing tonight. So much for Saborio getting a break after nearly an hour and a quarter of play.

75' - Russell and Rimando reset for Real. Alliteration... Here's Beckerman, and he is getting neutralized. The speed and pace of the RSL defense makes me wonder.

76' - GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 14 Edson Buddle Assist: 19 Juninho
On the next Buddlevan Connection...Edsonm scores his seventh...from Juninho!? How about that. Great stuff from the Sao Paulo product.

77' - Finally, the Brazilliance shows what it can do. Could this be the start of...the Budinho Connection?

78' - A new record has been set for most consecutive goals to start a MLS season with seven for Buddle. The old record of six by Carlos Ruiz in 2002 is sent to the dustbin.

79' - Well, Real has been behind the 8-ball numerous times, and hello Brigham Young...here they are again.

80' - High chance for Will Johnson...not gonna work.

Substitution Real Salt Lake
IN 19 Pablo Campos
OUT 15 Alvaro Saborio

82' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy

IN 21 Alan Gordon
OUT 19 Juninho

83' - I think Geiger just wants this game to be over. Alex Cazumba is wondering about the non-call.

84' - Edson Buddle, showing his sportsmanship. Man of the match alert?

85' - Here's a free kick for Real Salt Lake. Tony Beltran with the throw-in, on the hunt for equalizer number two. Thank you very much, says Mr. Ricketts. A goal kick.

86' - With both teams cranking up the pace, some of the fans seem to be content with the outcome. Ricketts pushes that shot by Mr. will Johnson away for an RSL corner.

87' - Cleared by Landon Donovan. Transition, and Rimando comes off his line for that save. Offsides on Buddle.

88' - Not enough mustard on that hot dog distance volley from Russell. 20,344 on hand for this one. Good turnout for the rematch.

89' - Ambitious shot. Out of danger for a goal kick. Bruce Arena's men will be content to exercise the defensive scenario and melt the clock.

90' - Here's Cazumba with a touch, Only one minute of stoppage time. All hands on deck.

90' + 1' - That went well for RSL...not. One more chance. This is trouble. And that header by Buddle was as miserable as you can make of it. Not like it's really going to matter. The hat trick will have to wait, Edson. The hat trick will have to wait.

90' + 1' - That's a wrap!

Stay tuned for my take on this match on Bleacher Report and on the View from Victoria Street.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

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