Starting XI: LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake | October 26, 2016

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Starting XI


Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget; Emmanuel Boateng, Giovani dos Santos, Landon Donovan; Alan Gordon


Substitutions


Dan Kennedy, A.J. DeLaGarza, Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz, Mike Magee, Robbie Keane.


Lineup notes


  • The playoffs! The playoffs! The playoffs! The Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off on Wednesday, and LA Galaxy Head Coach will make seven changes to the Starting XI from Sunday’s 0-0 draw vs. FC Dallas: Daniel Steres, Ashley Cole, Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng and Alan Gordon start in place of Dave Romney, A.J. DeLaGarza, Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz, Mike Magee, Raul Mendiola, Ariel Lassiter.
  • Showtime. Goalkeeper Brian Rowe will record his first-ever minutes in the MLS Cup Playoffs Wednesday night against RSL. Rowe locked down a spot in net this year for the Galaxy and has been a stud. 31 appearances, 30 starts and a 12-5-14 record with a 1.07 GAA – not bad.
  • On the right, two-time MLS Cup winner Robbie Rogers makes his 17th career MLS Cup Playoff start Wednesday night. Since making the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, the Galaxy have gone 31-13-22 in all MLS competitions in which he has appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the 2014 MLS Cup Final.
  • Big, bald, beautiful, boisterous, buff and Belgian. Jelle Van Damme makes his MLS Cup Playoffs debut after being Major League Soccer’s best defender during the regular season. It’s peanut butter Jelle time. 
  • Alongside JVD, central defender Daniel Steres will also make his MLS Cup Playoffs debut. Steres is the LA Galaxy II two-time defender of the year and led LA Galaxy II to the USL Final last season. He signed with the Galaxy this offseason and locked down a starting spot along the backline.
  • On the left, veteran defender Ashley Cole gets the nod in his first playoff match. Cole has been among the best left backs in Major League Soccer since joining from AS Roma this offseason.
  • In the center of the field, steady leaf-eating veteran Baggio Husidic makes the start. Husidic featured heavily in the lineup during the Galaxy’s 2014 MLS Cup run and will look to provide the same steady consistency from midfield.
  • Alongside Husidic is Da Boy Sebastian Lletget, who will make his second-ever playoff appearance. In his first and only previous playoff appearance, Lletget scored on the road last season at CenturyLink Field.
  • Out wide on the right, Landon Donovan makes the start, his 42nd ever MLS Cup playoff start. LD has tallied 25 goals and 14 assists in the playoffs and won a lot of MLS Cups, so you have to think he is good at soccer.
  • Pulling the strings on offense, Mexico International Giovani dos Santos gets the start after a standout year that saw him win LA Galaxy Player of the Year, presented by Herbalife Nutrition. Gio notched 14 goals and 12 assists this season.
  • On the left, the very-tiny-but-also-very-fast Emmanuel Boateng makes his playoff debut with the Galaxy. Boateng appeared in 26 games this season and tallied two goals and five assists, including two goals and two assists against Real Salt Lake. Which is fortunate, because the Galaxy play Real Salt Lake Wednesday.
  • Up top, Alan Gordon makes the start in his 16th postseason appearance in MLS. Gordon is a veteran and Gordon is clutch; he has 14 game-winning goals and seven game-winning assists in his MLS career.


Game notes


  • This year at home, the Galaxy went 8-1-8 at home during the regular season, scoring 32 goals and allowing just 18 for a +14 goal differential.
  • All time in MLS Cup Playoffs, the Galaxy have gone 42-21-7 while scoring 118 goals in their 70 previous playoff matches.
  • All time, Head Coach Bruce Arena is 30-11-5 in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
  • LA Galaxy finished the regular season as the Western Conferences’ highest scoring side, averaging 1.59 goals per game.
  • LA Galaxy finished the regular season as the league second best defensive side, allowing just 1.15 goals per game.


Storylines


  • Will the Galaxy advance from to the Western Conference Semifinals vs. Colorado Rapids?
  • How will the Galaxy fare in their first playoff match at StubHub Center since 2014?
  • Can Giovani dos Santos and Landon Donovan propel the Galaxy’s offense Wednesday?
  • How will Lletget and Husidic pair together in the midfield?


Quick hits


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