GUATEMALA CITY – The LA Galaxy are through to the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League, but they’re taking their clash with Comunicaciones on Wednesday very seriously as they look to solidify a favorable spot for next year’s knockout rounds.
The Galaxy clinched Group D with their 1-1 draw against Central FC in September, but now the team must look ahead to 2016 and the quarterfinals of the competition. A win in Guatemala City and the Galaxy will the top seed and possibly avoid a Mexican opponent next year.
For a team with aspirations of winning the CONCACAF Champions League, Wednesday’s match could not be more important.
“It’s very big. We’ve been through this in the past where we shot ourselves in the foot,” said Associate head coach Dave Sarachan, who will serve as the head coach on Wednesday with Bruce Arena back in Southern California. “Now we have an opportunity, and especially some of the players that we’re going to use tomorrow have an opportunity. It’s important in this competition because winning this competition is one of the things on our bucket list.”
If circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s match brings up some bad memories, it’s because the Galaxy have been in this exact position once before. Back in 2013, the Galaxy clinched their group with a game to spare and headed into their final group stage match against El Salvador’s Isidro Metapán with a shot at clinching the No. 1 seed in the CCL Knockout Round.
At Estadio Cuscatlán, the Galaxy saw their seeding plummet as they dropped a 4-0 defeat to the Salvadorans, setting up a Quarterfinal series with Club Tijuana that they eventually lost. This time around, however, the Galaxy are hoping to prevent history from repeating itself.
“It’s about having a positive mentality and contesting for every ball,” said Jose Villarreal who started that night in San Salvador. “We have to match the other team’s intensity, and if we do, we can win.”
Added Sarachan, “Along with the right tactical discussions, we need to have a good mentality heading into the game. We say that knowing what they’re going to expect. It won’t be an easy game. If you don’t have that, then it will play for a long night.”
Although Comunicaciones will be very dangerous with nothing to lose on Wednesday in front of their home supporters, the Galaxy are confident that they can get the job done in Guatemala City.
“Anything that we can do to improve our standing in the group is crucial,” said midfielder Rafael Garcia. “We’re coming in here with the mentality that we know the group is won, but at the same time, we want to keep improving.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
CSD Comunicaciones vs. LA Galaxy
2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League Group D
October 21 | 7 pm PT | Estadio Cementos Progreso, Guatemala City
TV: Fox Soccer Plus
The Galaxy are already through to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals after romping to lopsided home wins against Trinidad and Tobago's Central FC and Comunicaciones and then claiming a point in last month's visit to Trinidad, so they're jockeying for position in a fluid situation that will have cleared up by the time this game kicks off.
None of Thursday's games have any impact on who will qualify, and once Tuesday's results provide the winners of Group A (Saprissa or Santos Laguna), E (likely Club América, possibly Motagua) and G (Real Salt Lake or Municipal) and Wednesday's early game settles Group B (Tigres or Herediano), LA will know where they sit and with whom they'll match up with every possible result.
Comunicaciones have been hot, going 7-1-2 in a 10-game stretch before a 2-0 loss Sunday at Suchitepéquez.
ALL ABOUT THE SEED: The Galaxy made quick work of Group D, clinching the quarterfinal berth after just three games – and it was over, for all intents and purposes, after the five-goal romps in the home games back in August. The other three teams that have already advanced (Seattle, D.C. United and Querétaro) are finished with group play, and LA with a victory would finish above all of them for seeding purposes. They'd have a good shot at the No. 2 seed, behind Club América, with a win, and that could mean a final-eight date with Saprissa, the Sounders or Real Salt Lake – better than facing a Mexican foe, given the competition's history and how the spring schedule favors clubs from south of the border. Or it could mean a home-and-home with Querétaro, from, yes, Mexico.
REMEMBER T.J.: If the Galaxy need a reminder of why this game really is important, they need look no further than their loss at this stage two years ago at winless Isidro Metapán. LA were in position to avoid the Mexican powers in the quarters after cruising through their first three Group 8 games at a 6-0 clip. A victory would have meant a top-three seed – No. 2 with a three-goal triumph – and a showdown with Alajuelense or Sporting Kansas City. Instead, the Galaxy were blown out 4-0, dropped to No. 6 in the rankings and had to play Club Tijuana in the quarterfinals. The Xolos finished off the Galaxy the following spring.
CRITICAL WEEKEND:LA's 5-2 loss Sunday night against Portland somewhat complicated their bid for a top-two seed in the Western Conference and the opening-round playoff bye that goes with it. Their path is still simple: Win at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, and they're No. 2. To ensure this, head coach Bruce Arena acknowledged it “will likely be the case” that his starters skip the trip to Guatemala, as they did last month's trek to Trinidad, and work toward the MLS regular season finale. So expect a reserve lineup from the Galaxy.
INJURY REPORT: The Galaxy are as healthy as they've been all season. Only reserve goalkeeper Brian Perk, on the season-ending injury list all year, and youngster Bradford Jamieson IV, shut down after his second concussion, are definitely out, and we'll see aboutBaggio Husidic, who has rehabbed his knee injury and is itching to play but did not make it onto LA's 18-man game-day roster against Portland. A.J. DeLaGarza was in the 18 but did not play Sunday because of an unspecified injury, but he's unlikely to make the trip regardless of his fitness.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TODD DUNIVANT, LA GALAXY: The veteran left back is wrapping up a 13-year professional career this fall, and this could offer an opportunity for his final appearance in a Galaxy jersey. Injuries have cost him most of the past two seasons, and he's not been on the field for the first team since the July 21 International Champions Cup friendly against Barcelona. He says he's fit and ready to go and hopeful to see action in Guatemala City.
EMILIANO LOPEZ, COMUNICACIONES: The 27-year-old Argentine forward was the top scorer in the Liga Nacional's Clausura last spring, scoring 13 goals for Suchitepéquez. He joined Los Cremas over the summer and, after a brief acclimation, has been scoring regularly, with six strikes in the last nine matches.
