CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy are well aware of the challenge that awaits them as they prepare for the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals against Real Salt Lake on Sunday at StubHub Center (4:30 p.m., ESPN2).
The matchup figures to be another tense, physical affair much like last Saturday’s opening leg, which ended in a 0-0 draw in Sandy, Utah. The Galaxy were dominated in most facets of the game, but a superlative performance by goalkeeper Jaime Penedo (six saves) helped leave them in the enviable position of returning home where they lost only once this season and needing a victory to advance.
“We’re comfortable with the fact we’ve got to win this game at home,” head coach Bruce Arena said. “We’ll take some lessons from the first game and make some adjustments. I’m quite certain we’ll be a better team going forward.”
They’ll have to beat a team that boasts a number of dangerous players, ranging from Javier Morales and his nine goals and 12 assists to Alvaro Saborio’s eight goals and Joao Plata’s team-high 13 goals and six assists.
The Galaxy will pay particularly close attention to Plata, who stands just 5 feet 3 and weighs 134 pounds. He drove them crazy in the first leg and had a goal called back on an offside ruling in the 23rd minute.
“They have a great team,” Penedo said. “They have several offensive players that draw a lot of attention. Their attacking players know each other very well … they play great together. Alvaro Saborio is a great player, a great forward. I know him from the Costa Rica national team. Plata is a skillful player that runs a lot. (Javier) Morales and also (Kyle) Beckerman are all important players.
“It’s no mystery why they are in the conference semifinals.”
Plata was especially effective in sneaking behind the LA back line for dangerous forays into the Galaxy’s defensive third of the field and center back Omar Gonzalez said that has to stop. But he better be careful, considering he drew a yellow card for a foul on Saborio in the 53rd minute Saturday.
“Plata’s a special player,” Gonzalez said of the 22-year-old Ecuadoran international. “He’s small and he’s always in my blind side. He’s quick. We just have to be aware of where he’s at. Don’t let him start sprinting freely. Give him a little bump but not too much because the slightest touch can tip him over.
“Last game the referee (Silviu Petrescu) told me, ‘You’re just so much bigger than him. What do you want me to do?’ When I hear the ref tell me that it’s kind of difficult to do my job.”
Real Salt Lake wound up with a 16-3 edge in shots, including 6-1 on target, and a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. But Galaxy defenders sounded confident they can withstand another potential flurry this weekend at StubHub Center, where they were an impressive 12-1-4 during the regular season.
“It’s another situation that we have the guys who are capable of winning, especially at home,” A.J. DeLaGarza said. “We’ve done pretty well there this year, so we just have to take care of business.”
