CARSON, Calif. – It is gut check time for the LA Galaxy.
Los Angeles host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday in their do-or-die MLS Cup Knockout Round match that will determine which side advances to the Western Conference Semifinals. The Knockout Round meeting reunites a pair of old foes, who have met five times in the postseason since the 2009 MLS Cup final. The Galaxy hold an edge over Salt Lake with a 3-1-3 record in postseason matches and series victories in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
After a frustrating season that saw the Galaxy register 16 draws to finish in the third spot in the West, defender A.J. DeLaGarza says his squad must flip the switch on Wednesday.
“There’s a mental change. We’ve got guys in here who have won a bunch of MLS cups so we’re obviously capable of doing it and we’re going to show that Wednesday,” defender A.J. DeLaGarza said.
With the Galaxy unbeaten in two matches, Landon Donovan is confident that the Galaxy can hit their stride just in time.
“I think the last three weeks have been really good. What hasn’t shown up yet is the quality in the attacking third and when you’re missing, last week, two of your best attacking players in Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard and today all three of them with Giovani Dos Santos,” Donovan said. “It’s going to be hard to create real chances. But I think when you look at the way we play, the ability to not give away too many chances and just the effort…We have a chance. Now we need to make plays on the other end of the field.”