By: Alex Baker
The Los Angeles Galaxy successfully secured the MLS Supporters Shield Sunday night with 2-1 come-from-behind home win over FC Dallas. That match in which, Landon Donovan and David Beckham combined to score the equalizer while a brilliant individual effort from Juninho gave them the lead, saw the Galaxy seemingly firing on all cylinders. The MLS league leaders would appear to be heading into the playoffs in fine form.
However that form will surely be tested as the Galaxy face the first obstacle in their bid for a third MLS Cup championship in the form of a determined Seattle Sounders side. The Galaxy will travel to Quest Field this Sunday October 31st to play the first of a two-leg aggregate tie against the Western Conference’s fourth place team. Seattle have lost twice to the Galaxy this season conceding a total of seven goals while only scoring once. Having said that, the 2009 MLS expansion franchise have enjoyed a good run of form lately, winning five games in a row in an unbeaten streak that was only broken in their final match of the regular season, a 2-1 away loss to the Houston Dynamo.[picappgallerysingle id=”10055884″]
The Galaxy’s form has been far more inconsistent of late. After a tremendous start to the season the LA side have had their ups and downs since Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle’s return from the World Cup in South Africa. However the return of David Beckham to the lineup earlier this month seems to have bolstered the Galaxy. Despite a clumsy loss to the Colorado Rapids two weeks ago, LA have finished the regular season strong and are considered favorites to emerge the winner over the two legs in which case they will go on to face either FC Dallas or their old nemesis Real Salt Lake.
Should the Galaxy clear those hurdles we may very well be in for the marquee Cup final match-up we’ve been hoping for, pitting the Galaxy against the New York Red Bulls who are strongly tipped to win the Eastern Conference. That match which would see Donovan, Beckham and Buddle squaring off against the likes of Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and Angel Di Maria, would go along way towards helping the leagues’ overall standing by attracting viewers from outside of the sphere of the regular MLS fan-base.
Galaxy, whose regular season record is an impressive 18-5-7, will look to do their part in realizing that dream final this Sunday at Quest Field in Seattle. Kick-off is set to take place at 5pm following Halloween festivities and a costume contest that get underway at 3:30pm. The match will be aired live on ESPN2.
