Sounders FC is four points from the top of the table in Major League Soccer, and that margin would whittle to a single point with a win tonight at league-leading Los Angeles.
However, that isn’t coach Sigi Schmid’s top priority.
“Making sure we make it into the playoffs, that’s the most important thing for us at this stage,” he said. “We want to continue to play good soccer. It was a difficult 10 days. We had a lot of games in that 10-day stretch, but to come out with four wins is something I’m very happy with on this team; and at times I thought we played some very good soccer.”
The Sounders are on a season-high run of three consecutive league victories while also advancing to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
But even at that pace, it hasn’t been easy to gain ground on the Galaxy, which hasn’t lost since May 1 – going 5-0-5 over that stretch.
On top of that, Los Angeles has emerged as the Sounders’ chief nemesis in MLS, holding a 5-1-1 advantage in league play, including a playoff sweep last season and a 1-0 win in this season’s opening game. Over the past five meetings, the Galaxy has outscored Seattle, 11-2.
“We’re obviously disappointed with the way we’ve played against them the last three or four times,” goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. “So we’re going to go down there and try to make that right. They have the most points in the league, and they had the most points in the league last year, and so you have to give them a lot of credit because of that. They’ve consistently been winning more games than anybody else. We know we’ve got a tough task. A little shakeup with their lineup, and we know that we have to go in there and give everything we had.”
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena probably views his team’s lineup issues as more than “a little shakeup.”
Los Angeles is expected to be without assists-leader David Beckham because of a back injury, and will be using their third-string goalkeeper in his MLS debut.
Second-year keeper Brian Perk has been forced into action because of an arm injury to starter Donovan Ricketts and the red-card suspension of top reserve Josh Saunders.
This will be the first time the Galaxy has started neither Ricketts nor Saunders in goal since October 2008.
“Maybe it’s in the back of our mind,” Sounders forward Roger Levesque said. “You always want to go out and put keepers under pressure. You can’t score goals unless you shoot. A guy like Fredy (Montero) gets the ball on his foot from 30 yards out, he might as well hit one. I don’t think it’s going to change the way we approach it. At the same time, you still need to put pressure on (the keeper). The more decisions we make him make, I think the better off we’ll be.”
Schmid notes that the Sounders aren’t at full strength either, with forwards O’Brian White and Steve Zakuani out with long-term injuries.
Aside from points for Supporters Shield or the playoff race, Schmid admits the Sounders also have some pride at stake in turning things around against Los Angeles.
“The guys know what the results have been against LA,” Schmid said. “We haven’t had good results lately, and it’s another proving ground for us to go in there. They are a team that plays with a little bit of a swagger, they have some confidence. I think we are starting to get some of that and we just need to go in there and we got to play well.”
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com twitter/donruiztnt blog.thenewstribune.com/soccer
SOUNDERS GAMEDAY
SOUNDERS FC (8-4-7; 31 POINTS) AT LOS ANGELES GALAXY (9-2-8; 35)
7:30 p.m., Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.
TV: ESPN2. RADIO: 97.3 FM.
HEAD TO HEAD: The Galaxy leads 5-1-1 in league play, including a 1-0 win in Seattle on March 15.
TEAM LEADERS: For Seattle – G 4, Brad Evans and Alvaro Fernandez; A 4, Fredy Montero and Mauro Rosales; S 50, Montero; SOG 19, Montero; GAA 0.95, Kasey Keller. For LA – G 8, Landon Donovan; A 7, David Beckham; S 34, Chad Barrett; SOG 13, Barrett and Donovan; GAA 0.53; Donovan Ricketts.
NOTES: Seattle is four points behind league-leading Los Angeles in the Supporters Shield race. … The Galaxy has a 10-game unbeaten streak. The Sounders have a six-game unbeaten streak. … Los Angeles is 4-0-4 at home; Seattle is 3-2-4 away. … This is the 16th straight season when the Galaxy has played at home on the Fourth of July. They are 9-4-2 in those games. … L.A. goalkeeper Brian Perk is expected to make his MLS debut, filling in for Ricketts, who is out with an arm injury, and Josh Saunders, who is serving a red-card suspension. Perk made two saves Tuesday in the Galaxy’s 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Blues in U.S. Open Cup play. … Beckham (back) also is not expected to play. However, Donovan is back from duty with the U.S. national team. … Sounders Servando Carrasco and James Riley are one caution away from yellow-card suspension. … The Galaxy will debut a dark-blue third kit. … The Sounders and Galaxy will meet again July 12 or 13 in the Open Cup quarterfinals. … The referee is Ricardo Salazar.
QUOTABLE: “Obviously beating LA or going down there and getting a good result – if it’s a draw, depending on how the game rolls out – that goes a long way in showing … (the Galaxy) that they’re going to have a tough run.” – Keller.
NEXT: 1 p.m. Sunday, at Portland Timbers.
Don Ruiz, staff writer
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