CARSON, Calif. –They say that you only get one chance to make a first impression and that old cliché rings true for the Galaxy in their Western Conference Championship first leg series with Seattle Sounders FC.
In front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd at StubHub Center on Sunday, the tone of the whole series with the Sounders will hinge on the Galaxy’s ability to dominate the home leg.
During their decisive Western Conference Semifinal win over Real Salt Lake, the Galaxy did just that as they blasted through the RSL defense with two goals in the first 20 minutes before adding three more in the second half.
Although LA don’t expect that kind of score line on Sunday, they know that they’ll have to be pressing throughout against a Seattle team that will likely head to StubHub Center with a defensive mentality.
“It’s important to play the same way that we played in the last game,” said Galaxy captain Robbie Keane who scored two goals in the 2012 Western Conference Championship against a very similar Sounders team. “I’m sure that it’ll be a similar style [from the visiting team] as two weeks ago where they might play more defensive. We just have to be clever and do what we did to Salt Lake.”
Added Omar Gonzalez, “We need to do our duty defensively in terms of being sharp and when we get our chances in front of their goal. We need to punish them because every goal matters. It’s very important that we go into their house with a lead. We just have to say focused and no matter how late it gets, we just have to get the result.”
The wide field at StubHub Center should only play into the Galaxy’s hands as the club has gone undefeated at home since their opening day defeat to Real Salt Lake back in March. In that time, the Galaxy have gone 14-0-4 in all competitions.
“Our home field has been a real plus for us this year,” said head coach Bruce Arena. “We’ve lost the opening game of the season and none since then, so we’re expecting to perform well.”
The Galaxy will certainly have history on their side as the team is 12-6-4 in all conference championship games, and since 2009, LA are 3-1-0 in conference championship games at home.
But key to adding another victory to impressive tally will be a quick start on Sunday.
“It’s very important that we take care of business at home. We want to make sure that we score goals and we’re very capable of scoring goals as we’ve seen this year, but so are they,” said Gonzalez. “If we can go to Seattle like we did [in 2012] up three goals then you can bet your money that we’re going to get the win. “
