The Galaxy and Real Salt Lake meet in the playoffs yet again.
The LA Galaxy entered last season trying to do what no team had ever done in MLS history -- win three consecutive titles. It looked like they may do it too, entering the playoffs in pretty good form and with as much of a chance as any other team, but they couldn't even make it out of the first round.
Real Salt Lake killed the Galaxy's dream, turning around a 1-0 deficit after the first leg to book a spot in the Western Conference final. They won there too, advancing to MLS Cup for the second time in five years.
At this point, it seems wrong if the Galaxy and RSL don't meet in the postseason. The rivalry started in 2009 when RSL beat the Galaxy to win MLS Cup, but LA got revenge in 2011, beating Salt Lake en route to an MLS Cup title of their own. Then last season, it was RSL getting the upperhand, setting up this year's clash.
The Galaxy are the same as ever, led by stars Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan. They got off to a terrible start to their season, but were the best team in MLS from the ninth match of the season on and almost captured the Supporters' Shield. With Bruce Arena in charge, Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza in the center of defense and the stars in the attack, there isn't much about LA that RSL doesn't know. The only major change is the emergence of Gyasi Zardes, who scored 16 goals this season, but after seven matches against RSL in the last two years, Salt Lake knows him pretty well too.
Things are quite the same with RSL, who have a new manager this season. Jason Kreis departed for New York City FC after MLS Cup last year, leaving the team to Jeff Cassar. It has been an up-and-down season, with flashes of their former brilliance, as well as stretches of ineptitude. Still, they have Kyle Beckerman making his claim as the league's best midfielder again, Javier Morales pulling the strings and Nat Borchers anchoring the defense. They also have Alvaro Saborio back from injury after the striker missed months of the season with a broken metatarsal. Toss in Joao Plata, who broke out with 13 goals and six assists this season and RSL has the tools to make this like every other playoff match-up between these two teams -- entertaining, intense and at as high a level as any other in MLS.
Team news
Robbie Keane missed last weekend's Supporters' Shield deciding match with what was described as a "nagging injury" but he has trained all week and should be ready to go for the match. With him back, the Galaxy are fit and ready to go.
Real Salt Lake's only real injury concern is Chris Schuler, but he is a huge concern. He missed the final three matches of the season with a facial fracture and is key to the RSL defense, but he appears set to play, albeit with a protective face mask. Whatever he has to wear, Salt Lake will be thrilled to have him back.
Projected lineups
LA Galaxy: Jaime Penedo; Dan Gargan, Omar Gonzalez, AJ DeLaGarza, Robbie Rogers; Baggio Husidic, Juninho, Marcelo Sarvas, Landon Donovan; Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane.
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Chris Schuler, Chris Wingert; Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland, Ned Grabavoy, Javier Morales; Alvaro Saborio, Joao Plata
Key Questions
1. Can either team win the midfield? Both the Galaxy and RSL play with four-man midfields that do an excellent job of taking away space in the center. These similar approaches have led to ugly matches between these teams before, but sometimes the Galaxy have gotten the upperhand in the middle with a good press, while RSL have done it thanks to kyle Beckerman's brilliance. In last year's playoffs, the Galaxy won the midfield in the first leg and won the match, then RSL won the midfield in the second leg and won the tie. Who will control it this time around?
2. Will RSL be able to stop the LA attack? The Galaxy had the best attack in MLS, scoring 69 goals this season, and they were especially good in the second half of the season. Robbie Keane has been his usual brilliant self -- and may win MVP because of it -- but the second half resurrection of Landon Donovan and the emergence of Gyasi Zardes has taken the LA attack to another level. RSL did a good job against the Galaxy this season, limiting them to two goals in three matches, but the first two matches came in LA's early season skid and the third back in July. This is a new Galaxy attack, and the best one RSL will have seen this season.
3. How fit is Alvaro Saborio? RSL haven't looked spectacular since the spring. Not coincidentally, that is when Alvaro Saborio went down with a broken metatarsal. He's only played six matches since and last weekend was the first time he went 90 minutes. The Costa Rican is one of the league's best strikers and completely transforms the RSL attack. Javier Morales and Joao Plata are both great and carried the RSL attack in Saborio's absence, but it the striker is fit and in form, their attack goes to a whole other level. The concern is that we haven't seen enough of him to be convinced that he is actually fit and in form.
Prediction
If you take just this season into account, the Galaxy should win this easily. RSL haven't been phenomenal at home, aren't in spectacular form and LA have been the far better team this season, but Salt Lake has too many experienced players to just go away. The Galaxy attack is the best in the league so they will get a goal, but a fit Alvaro Saborio is good for a goal too in a 1-1 draw.
from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1wQhxtc
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