Los Angeles Galaxy @ Chicago Fire
Saturday, September 4th -- 1:00pm
Toyota Park
TV: PrimeTicket, Telefutura
Radio: AM 1150, 1330 AM
SIDE BY SIDE
._______________________________.
|...........LAG.........CHI.....|
|POS........1...........11..... |
|CONF.......1...........5.......|
|PTS........43..........24......|
|OVERALL....13-4-5......6-7-6...|
|HOME.......6-2-2.......3-4-2...|
|AWAY.......7-2-3.......3-2-5...|
|GF.........32..........27......|
|GA.........16..........28......|
|+/-........16..........-1......|
|FORM.......DLWLL.......WDWLL...|
|PPG........1.9.........1.3.....|
=================================
THE LAST GAME
What seemed a picture perfect opportunity for Los Angeles to shake its midseason slump against a terrible road team quickly turned into a nightmare for Galaxy and turned out to be the team’s second (consecutive) home loss of the season.
The team’s poor play continued as Bruce Arena was forced to use yet another starting XI with Juninho’s return to Brazil due to undisclosed “personal issues.” This left the midfield under the supervision of Chris Birchall and Michael Stephens who failed to put their stamp on a match dominated largely by Kansas City’s Stephane Auvray.
Kansas City found the goal they were looking for (as it seems all MLS teams have now gotten the message about attacking L.A. early) and made the rest of their night good with disciplined play and opportunistic attacks.
One of the more troubling aspects for Los Angeles has indeed been the lack of true outside play. As evidenced in this match with an aging Chris Klein on the right and an ever-versatile, but oft misused Landon Donovan on the left, Galaxy lacks true outside midfielders capable of assisting the defensive mid in ball recovery and aiding the offensive players in sustaining attacks and exploiting spaces.
THE NEXT GAME
Now, that opportunity gone, Galaxy will have a week to get back to basics and hope to start turning the tide on the road. The next opponent for the current points-leader will be a Chicago team that sits 5 points outside of the playoff picture and, with back to back losses, perhaps is secretly starting to think about next season.
With only 8 games left in the season, Galaxy now officially have Columbus in their blind spot and must start finding wins, even if ugly ones, to get the momentum rolling in the right direction just in time for the playoffs.
Chicago has been largely unsuccessful this season at home as well as on the road. The Fire have only been in “playoff position” for two weeks, spending most of their time drifting between 9th and 12th place.
Their season, characterized by inconsistence, has perhaps been more noteworthy for their mid-season acquisitions Nery Castillo and Freddie Ljungberg, neither of whom has yet made a considerable splash for the Men in Red.
Logic would dictate that Los Angeles comes back to the southland with a full 3 points in the pocket, but at current form, it truly is anybody’s guess.
THE BIG PICTURE
Galaxy need to concentrate on Chicago this weekend knowing full well that Columbus is now chasing much too close for anyone’s comfort. In theory the game is a bit of a “gimme” but the team has struggled with those as of late, and considering the next rival, it turns from a “gimme” into a “must-win.”
Next weekend Galaxy will have a “playoff screening” as it hosts the very same team that is breathing down its back in the race for the Supporters Shield.
If we are to assume that Los Angeles continues to be a “favorite” or a “contender” for the MLS Cup Final in Toronto in November, then it would only be appropriate that we also assume that Columbus will be the team on the other side of that bracket. And any kind of psychological advantage the team can gain over the side from Ohio will be quite valuable.
The G’s have already seen the Crew once, in Columbus, earlier this season and managed 3 points with a 2-0 victory. Without finding any sort of true form again, however, it seems hard to imagine that Galaxy will be able to win once more against a very hungry Columbus team.