CARSON, Calif. – Leonardo is ready to step back onto the LA Galaxy's backline after missing the first leg of the Western Conference Championship against Seattle, and A.J. DeLaGarza and Marcelo Sarvas say they'll also be available for Sunday's second leg at CenturyLink Field (9:20 pm ET; ESPN, buy tickets here).
LA's injury issues don't appear to be serious for the match that will determine the host for the Dec. 7 MLS Cup title game, but head coach Bruce Arena will have decisions to make, especially if he thinks DeLaGarza or Sarvas would struggle to play 90 minutes – and perhaps more.
Leonardo, who suffered a minor hamstring strain in the first half of the 5-0 romp over Real Salt Lake three weeks ago in the conference semifinal second leg, has trained fully all week and says he's ready to go.
“I feel really good,” he said following Friday morning's training session at StubHub Center. “I feel ready to go Sunday. … Fortunately, it wasn't a serious injury, and I am able to recover in a week or two instead of months.”
Arena must decide whether to insert Leonardo back into the lineup or continue with Tommy Meyer, who fared well after coming on for the Brazilian center back as Omar Gonzalez's partner in the middle last week.
“Whatever Bruce's choices are, whether it's [Leonardo] or Tommy, I'm fine with either of them,” Gonzalez said. “Both have shown that they're great players, they're both focused, so, obviously, they're both ready to give it their all.”
DeLaGarza, who is usually a center-back option but has started the past two games at right back, strained a hamstring in the first half of last weekend's 1-0 victory over the Sounders, played on, then departed in the 61st minute. He says he could have finished up if needed, that he's trained all week – sometimes on the field, sometimes on the sidelines – and will be available.
“It was just precaution [to exit the game last Sunday],” he said. “We were leading, and then it started to bother me a little bit, so come out and let Dan [Gargan] finish the job. … If I'm called upon, like every week, I'll go out there. It's up to Bruce, but I'm ready to go.”
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Left back Todd Dunivant, who was knocked out by a groin tear in early September, was on the bench in the first leg and says he's ready to contribute.
“It's been a process, but having those two weeks in between [playoff] series was big for me,” he said. “My first day of [full] training was after the 5-0 Salt Lake game, so I had two full weeks of training, was able to be on the bench [in the opener against Seattle] and then a full week this week. I've been able to push myself and will be ready if called upon.”
Sarvas departed in the 69th minute last week with a hip injury, a bruise very close to the bone, but he says it's improved greatly.
“It just goes away with days, and every day's better and better,” he said. “So until Sunday, going to be 100 percent, for sure.”
If he's not, Arena could use Baggio Husidic or Kenney Walker next to Juninho in central midfield.
