CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy may be down 2-1 to Monterrey in their CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal series heading into the decisive second leg, but LA understands that they’ve been in this situation before.
LA went down 1-0 in the Western Conference Semifinal to the Supporters’ Shield winners, the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs. Needing a result at Buck Shaw Stadium, LA roared back and crushed San Jose 3-1 to clinch a berth in the Conference Final en route to a second straight MLS Cup title.
This time, the setting—Estadio Tecnológico is a tad more difficult than the rustic Buck Shaw Stadium —and the opponent will be different, but LA believes that can battle back. After all, they’ve done it before.
“We’ve already mentioned [the San Jose victory]. We’ve obviously been here before and last year we were here 20 times down in games, so we know what we need to do,” said Magee. “It’s going to be a little difficult going down to Monterrey, which is a hard place to get a result, but this is a game though where everybody will find out what our team is all about.”
Sean Franklin also sees the parallels and believes that if LA can tighten up on the missed opportunities and concentration lapses that plagued them in the first leg, a win is not out of the question.
“We were in this position last year; the only difference is that it’s going to be one more goal,” said Franklin. “We know that it’s going to be tough, but we think our team is excited with the task at hand. If we just sharpen up a few things and get a little bit smarter then there is a chance to go down there and win in Mexico.”
