CARSON, Calif. – Steven Gerrard’s introduction to Major League Soccer occurred almost a month ago in the LA Galaxy’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes, a come-from-behind, 5-2 victory in what historically has been one of the league’s most intense rivalries.
The Liverpool legend is about to get a first-hand look at another of the Galaxy’s arch-rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on Sunday at StubHub Center (1 p.m., ESPN, ESPN Deportes) and he can’t wait for the Western Conference clash.
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“I’m hearing a lot of things,” he said. “They’re a big rival and this game is going to be a bit juicy this weekend, which is fine with me. You look at the fixtures at the beginning of the season… you look for the San Jose’s, you look for the Seattle’s. I’m really looking forward to it.
“This is almost like a six-point game. We want them to lose three and we want to take three. We’re going to be ready.”
Seattle, sixth in the West at 10-11-2 for 32 points, has lost four consecutive matches – all by shutout – and has dropped five of its last six. The lone victory was a 1-0 win over visiting D.C. United on July 3 at CenturyLink Field.
Clint Dempsey is tied with Obafemi Martins for the team lead with seven goals, but Martins is questionable for Sunday with a right adductor strain and tenacious midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is out with a slight hamstring tear.
But reinforcements are on the way. Seattle just signed Paraguayan forward Nelson Valdez, who has 68 caps with his country’s national team, and Austrian midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz.
Despite Seattle’s struggles, Galaxy coaches and players know better than to underestimate the Sounders.
“In this league anyone can beat anyone on any given day,” defender Omar Gonzalez said. “Just because Seattle hasn’t been having a great month doesn’t mean that all of a sudden they can’t find their confidence and beat us here at home.
“(Sounders head coach) Sigi (Schmid) is going to fire up his team. He wants to beat (Galaxy head coach) Bruce (Arena), Seattle wants to beat LA and it’s up to us to be strong at home and give the fans a good game.”
The Galaxy (10-7-7, 37 points) should be close to full strength with the exception of forward Jose Villarreal (knee), midfielder Baggio Husidic (calf) and defender Todd Dunivant (foot) and new signee Giovani dos Santos is expected to make his MLS debut Sunday. Despite the almost embarrassment in riches, Arena isn’t about to take anything for granted this weekend.
In fact, he almost empathized with the Sounders’ plight.
“In our league everyone slumps at some point and everyone’s not healthy,” he said. They’re going through what everybody experiences in our season.”
Added Alan Gordon, “By no means is this going to be an easy game, even if they’re not 100 percent. They’re going to come in here and fight and battle because that’s what this game is all about.”
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
STUBHUB CENTER, Carson, Calif.
August 9, 2015 (MLS Game #232)
1 pm pT (ESPN)
The LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC renew their burgeoning rivalry for a second time this season when the Western Conference foes face off in a critical match Sunday afternoon before an ESPN audience. The Galaxy return home off a first road win in nearly a calendar year, defeating the Colorado Rapids 3-1 last weekend. Sounders FC sit just five points back of the Galaxy, holding down the sixth and final playoff position in the division, their league losing streak extended to four games last weekend in a 3-0 home loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- The Galaxy defeated the Colorado Rapids 3-1 on Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, ending the club’s league road winless streak at 15 games, the third-longest in club history. It was the Galaxy’s first win away from StubHub Center in nearly a year – since a victory last August 20, also a come-from-behind victory at Colorado; they were winless over 18 games in all competitions on their travels.
- Sounders FC equaled their MLS losing streak record with a fourth consecutive loss, falling 3-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC were also shut out for a fourth consecutive match; their 362 minutes without a goal is the longest in the club’s MLS history, and tied for second-longest goalless drought in MLS this season.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Alan Gordon scored the game’s lone goal midway through the first half to lead the Galaxy to victory April 12 at StubHub Center. Sounders FC have not won at the Galaxy since 2009, now 10 trips in league and MLS Cup play without a win.
- The teams have met three times in the last five seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs, including in the Western Conference Championship a year ago, when the Galaxy won on away goals after a 1-0 win at StubHub Center and a 2-1 Sounders FC victory at CenturyLink Field.
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Nima Saghafi
MLS Career: 187 games; FC/gm: 23.4; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 35; pens: 54
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SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: LA: Baggio Husidic – SEA: Osvaldo Alonso
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: LA: Juninho, Mika Vayrynen, Omar Gonzalez – SEA: Andy Rose, Zach Scott, Tyrone Mears, Gonzalo Pineda
DISABLED LIST: LA: Brian Perk (season-ending injury) – SEA: Andres Correa, Andy Craven
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (16 meetings): Galaxy 7 wins, 22 goals – Sounders FC 4 wins, 16 goals – Ties 5
AT LA (8 meetings): Galaxy 4 wins, 12 goals – Sounders FC 1 win, 6 goals – Ties 3
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CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
