MLS MATCHDAY 2
LA Galaxy vs D.C. United
Sunday, March 18 - 7:00 PM ET
Official viewing party at Rà Rá in Clarendon, VA
TV: Galavision
Much of the talk building up to Sunday's leagueclash between D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy has more to do with whowon't be playing for the defending champions than who will be playing for the Black-and-Red.
While that may be a slight to a United squadhungry for its first win of 2012, the reality is that L.A. could have millionsof dollars in salary on its bench come Sunday. David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Edson Buddle and Landon Donovanstarted each of the Galaxy's three matches during a brutal seven-day stretch lastweek. Knocked out of the CONCACAFChampions League on Wednesday, Los Angeles enters the weekend looking to take outtheir frustrations on D.C.
"Anyone that underestimates this team is afool," Galaxy owner Tim Leiweke told
ESPNLosAngeles on Friday
. "We are more determined and more focused now, and we'reall ticked off, and that's a good thing. Those that want to say that we're overand we're underachieving, we'll see you [in the MLS playoffs] in November."
Just like L.A.'s elimination from CCL will allow theGalaxy to focus on the MLS schedule, the lack of certainty about Bruce Arena'slineup has forced United to take a more introspective approach to Sunday'saffair. Instead of game planningaround an opponent loaded with talent, the Black-and-Red have been keenlyfocused on improving their own performance following a disappointing opener.
"They had games this week so we don't knowwhat lineup we are going to see," acknowledged midfielder Danny Cruz. "At the end of the day it doesn'tmatter who they put out. It's oureleven that matters. Yes they area good team, but we are looking forward to it."
"It's a different opponent that presses ina different way," added Josh Wolff, when asked about areas where D.C. mustimprove from their 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City. "We feel that there are going to be times where we cankeep the ball and play a little bit and try to gain a little more rhythm. That is something we lacked and didn'timprove upon during the course of the first game."
Sunday will be the first chance for D.C. to tryand replicate their successful road form of a year ago. United won more games (5) away from RFKthan they did in Southeast D.C. (4) in 2011 as the Black-and-Red developed astyle that should suit them well against a Galaxy team that has alread allowed sevengoals over their first three competitive matches of the season.
"I think over the course of last year we became a very strongcounter attacking team and I think we still have the makeup to counterwell," noted Wolff, who came on as a second-half substitute againstK.C. "I think that is a bigreason why we went on the road last year and did so well. We went in with the mentality that wewere going to be tough to play against and not give up a whole lot. In doing so the other team will come atyou a bit."
United and the Galaxy will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. EST from the Home Depot Center on Sunday. The match can be seen live on Galavision.
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. SAR (bench): Fabio Tovar; JAR (opposite): Ian Anderson; 4th: Juan Guzman MLS Career: 126 games; FC/gm: 24.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 47; pens: 47
INJURY REPORT:
- LA GALAXY - OUT: FW Adam Cristman (concussion); DF Omar Gonzalez (L knee surgery); MF Bryan Jordan (L hamstring strain); DF Leonardo (R knee surgery); MF Kyle Nakazawa (tonsillectomy); MF Jose Villarreal (bilateral lower leg surgery) ...
- D.C. UNITED - OUT: MF Kurt Morsink (L foot neurectomy);: DF Ethan White (R knee inflammation)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: LA: Michael Stephens (USA U-23) ... DC: Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen (USA U-23) SUSPENDED: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (38 meetings): Galaxy 17 wins (0 shootout), 58 goals ... United 13 wins (1 shootout), 48 goals ... Ties 8 AT LA (18 meetings): Galaxy 8 wins (0 shootout), 24 goals ... United 5 wins (1 shootout), 17 goals ... Ties 5
LAST YEAR (MLS):
4/9: DC 1, LA 1 (Davies 90 – Magee 12)
6/3: LA 0, DC 0
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- The latest installment of the one of the most enduring rivalries in MLS history, the Galaxy have a seven-game unbeaten streak vs. United. Since a 4-1 D.C. win in 2008 at RFK Stadium, the Galaxy have won three times with four draws, including in both meetings a year ago.
- United’s last win against the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center came all the way back in 2005, a 1-0 victory on July 23.
- Coaches record: Bruce Arena vs. DC: P12 W4 L3 D5 ... Ben Olsen vs. LA: P3 W0 L1 D2
