CARSON, Calif. -- First a little housekeeping message: if the LA Galaxy's Western Conference Semifinal second leg with Real Salt Lake ends in a draw in which goals are scored after 90 minutes, it will be RSL who advance past LA on the away goals tiebreaker.
However, even despite that new wrinkle to the MLS Cup Playoffs format, the Galaxy enter their clash with RSL with a simple objective: win the game. If the Galaxy can pull off a victory against Salt Lake on Sunday -- no matter the score -- it will be LA who advances to the Conference Final for the fifth time in six years.
Even though the Galaxy need simply to win the game, does the advantage of playing for a draw and an away goal benefit the visitors and force LA to go guns blazing from the start?
"Honestly, I think that this is new rule has been implemented and it’s been all that anyone talks about,” said Landon Donovan. “At the end of the day, if you win the games, it doesn’t matter. Our focus is to win the game and we don’t go into any game at home thinking that we’re going to draw.
“We go into games thinking that we’re going to win. Could it come down to it? Yeah, it could, but our focus is on winning the game.”
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena agreed, stating that it was more likely for the away goals rule to come into play in the series between FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders FC.
“Of course, if [an away goal] happens then that’s something that would concern us. If that happens then we’re going to have to get a goal really quick. It’s all part of it,” said Arena. “We’re going out to win the game. We’ve done that at home pretty well this year and we hope that it can continue.
"Our goal is to win the game. If we do that then you can keep all your math to yourself."
