CARSON, Calif. – It’s really quite simple for the five-time MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy: beat the Seattle Sounders on Sunday at StubHub Center (1 p.m., ESPN) and they’re in the postseason.
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Head coach Bruce Arena, however, isn’t exactly jumping for joy at such a possibility.
“I won’t be doing any cartwheels,” he said as his team prepared for an important Western Conference clash. Arena couldn’t help but think back to a year ago, when the Galaxy appeared to be in good shape at the end of the season, only to be quickly eliminated in the playoffs.
“I was told yesterday we have a 99 percent chance (of making the playoffs),” Arena joked with reporters. “When it’s 100 percent I’ll be a little bit relieved but not that relieved. Hopefully there’s a lot ahead from there.
“Right now we have to take it one game at a time. Last year at this time of year you would have said everything’s great. We were No. 1 in the Supporters’ Shield (race) at the time and then things didn’t end up that well.”
The Galaxy are 11-4-15 for 48 points in the West, just four points behind FC Dallas. Seattle (10-13-5, 35 points), on the other hand, is in dire straits. The Sounders are seventh in the conference, five points behind sixth-place Sporting Kansas City, but they do have two games in hand.
The Galaxy, whose four losses are the fewest in MLS and whose 15 ties are a league high – the MLS record for draws is 18 set by Chicago in 2014 – would appear to be formidable to most observers. But apparently not Fox Sports analyst Alexi Lalas, who had the Galaxy ranked ninth among the league’s top teams.
Galaxy captain Robbie Keane, whose start in last Sunday’s 2-2 tie with Sporting Kansas City was his first since Aug. 20, took exception to that criticism.
“He must have had at least 10 whiskeys to say that,” he told reporters after training on Friday. “I like the position we’re in. Second in the conference? Second in the league? Do the math.
“I don’t know how that makes us the ninth-best or ninth-worst team. I don’t know how you can explain that one.”
The Galaxy will be taking on a Seattle side that appears rejuvenated under interim head coach Brian Schmetzer and is 4-1-3 since he took over for the departed Sigi Schmid. Jordan Morris, a strong Rookie of the Year candidate, has 10 goals – including five game-winners – and Uruguayan standout Nicolas Lodeiro has provided a noticeable spark to the offense since arriving in late July.
Seattle, however, still is without striker Clint Dempsey, whose status remains unclear because of issues related to an irregular heartbeat.
Arena, however, is expecting a difficult test nonetheless.
“They’re obviously not where they want to be, but they certainly have the potential to have a good run and make the playoffs,” he said. “And be a dangerous team in the playoffs.”
The Galaxy’s Steven Gerrard, who hasn’t played since going 31 minutes in a 0-0 tie with Vancouver on Aug. 27, could return Sunday. He’s been out with a sore hamstring. Giovani Dos Santos, who has 14 goals and 11 assists, missed the tie with Sporting Kansas City because of a tight hip flexor but pronounced himself “100 percent ready” for this weekend.
Landon Donovan, who recently ended his 20-month retirement and scored the tying goal in Kansas City, figures to get more minutes as Arena eases him back into the lineup.
“Landon’s fine,” Arena said. “He’s the least of our worries.”
LA GALAXY vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS
StubHub Center | Carson, Calif.
Sunday, Sept. 25 | Week #29 | MLS Game #301
1 pm PT (ESPN in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada)
If the Seattle Sounders are to keep their playoff hopes alive for another week, they’ll have to pick up a result in one of MLS’ most difficult environments.
The seventh-place Sounders, who are five points behind Sporting Kansas City but hold two games in hand on both the sixth-place club and fifth-place Portland, will travel to LA this weekend for a nationally-televised encounter at the Galaxy.
Seattle won’t be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss on Saturday, but failing to pick up a point at StubHub Center would severely lessen their chances of qualifying for their eighth-straight postseason. Unfortunately for them, LA – who are unbeaten in their last six – are perhaps the top team in the league at home, posting a 8-0-7 record at StubHub Center in 2016 and a 42-5-18 mark with a +92 goal differential in LA over the last four seasons.
The Galaxy have plenty to play for, as well, as the second-place club will clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Sounders. LA will also be looking to consolidate their top-two position in the West with an eye on a first-round bye in the upcoming MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Landon Donovan scored his MLS all-time leading 145th league goal in the second game of his return from retirement, as the Galaxy reached a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Park.
- Jordan Morris scored the 10th goal in his rookie season – his fifth game-winning goal – as Sounders FC snapped a three-game winless run with a 1-0 victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field.
- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Robbie Keane scored the game’s lone goal to give the Galaxy the victory July 9 at CenturyLink Field. On July 31 at CenturyLink Field, Cristian Roldan gave Sounders FC a first-half lead, but Sebastian Lletget netted the equalizer 12 minutes from time to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw.
- Sounders FC have not won at the Galaxy since 2009, now 11 trips in league and MLS Cup play without a win.
- The teams have met four times in the last six seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs, including in the Knockout Round last year; last year’s victory was the first time Sounders FC have advanced.
- The teams also met this year in a US Open Cup quarterfinal on July 20, the Galaxy coming back for a 4-2 win at the StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium. Giovani dos Santos netted the equalizer late in the second half, then Sebastian Lletget scored twice in the final minutes to put the game away.
