LA Galaxy not planning on sitting back against Seattle Sounders FC | Match Preview

Larry Morgan

CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy don’t need to be reminded of the task at hand when they take on Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday at CenturyLink Field (6 p.m., ESPN, ESPN Deportes) in the second leg of the Western Conference final.

They are taking the simplest of approaches for the much-anticipated rematch: win.

“We know exactly what we have to do to get to the final,” the Galaxy’s Robbie Keane said in referring to MLS Cup scheduled for Dec. 7. “We’ve been playing all season to get this opportunity where we are.

“We can’t let it slip now.”

But that’s exactly what happened a year ago, when the Galaxy led the conference final against Real Salt Lake 1-0 – they have the same advantage over Seattle in their current series – only to fall in extra time on the road and be denied a chance to claim their third consecutive MLS Cup.

The Galaxy’s Landon Donovan said he feels confident last year’s disappointment actually will prove beneficial.

“I think we learned a lot last year with the Salt Lake series,” he said. “We went there with a 1-0 lead and I think we were a little too tentative and a little too defensive and we didn’t have many chances, we didn’t create many chances.

“It’s going to be a hard game. There’s no question about that.”

The Galaxy, who own a 4-1 advantage over the Sounders in the playoffs all time – their lone loss was a 2-1 defeat in Seattle in the second leg of the 2012 conference final; the Galaxy advanced 4-2 on aggregate – are confident they have what it takes to get a positive result this weekend.

Much of that can be attributed to experience, thanks in large part to the same core that remains intact since their back-to-back MLS Cup titles.

“We know what it takes to get there,” Keane said. “We’ve been there before. As difficult as the place is to go and win the game we’ve done that before, and the majority of the players are still here.

“We know what’s at stake. What’s important for me and the players is we have go and try to win the game.”

The Sounders could be boosted by the return of midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, who has been out with a hamstring problem and missed the series opener. But his status remains unclear.

The Galaxy would welcome his presence.

“I hope he plays,” Keane said. “You want the best players on the field.”

The Galaxy, who have not allowed a goal in three postseason matches, are optimistic they can meet the challenge, no matter who the Sounders put out on the field.

“I think our team is very confident,” said midfielder Marcelo Sarvas, who scored the winning goal last Sunday.

Added central defender Omar Gonzalez, “Everyone’s excited about heading to Seattle, hopefully playing well and moving on to MLS Cup.

“That’s the plan. That’s the goal.”

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, LEG 2 
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC VS. LA GALAXY
6:20 pm PT, Sunday, November 30
TV: ESPN | WatchESPN | ESPN Deportes | RDS2 | TSN.ca, MLSsoccer.com in Canada

The LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders conclude their heady end-of-season rivalry with the deciding match in the Western Conference Championship of the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, Sunday at CenturyLink Field. The Galaxy take a one-goal advantage into the game thanks to a 1-0 victory last weekend at StubHub Center on a Marcelo Sarvas goal, as they shoot for a third MLS Cup title game appearance in the last four years. It would be a mark of revenge for LA after the Sounders claimed the Supporters’ Shield with a win over the Galaxy in the regular-season finale. Should the Sounders overcome the deficit to advance, it would put them one game away from an unprecedented “treble” after already winning the Shield and US Open Cup.

PREMATCH CONTENT:

Larry Morgan

MLS Playoffs

LA Galaxy not planning on sitting back against Seattle Sounders FC | Match Preview

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