I know it has been a while, but say it with me Galaxy fans, "It's playoff time!"
Doesn't that sound sweet! After a three year hiatus Los Angeles opens the postseason with a familiar opponent, Chivas USA, Sunday afternoon at The Home Depot Center. Things really could not have set up any better for the Galaxy, the number one seed in the Western Conference. Not that any of the three teams (Chivas USA, Seattle or Houston) the Galaxy would have faced in the first round would be a pushover, but LA matches up well with the "Goats." Riding the momentum of the 2-0 win over the Earthquakes this past weekend, now the task turns to facing a team that the Galaxy are not only very familiar with, but as we all know, they share the same stadium with. Yes, it is our first playoff installment of the SuperClasico!
Preki and his Chivas USA side went winless against the Galaxy in 2009; so it is fair to assume that they will be hungry to earn their first win against their stadium mates. LA earned two 1-0 wins after the teams tied 0-0 in their first meeting back in April. That has to be a major reason for concern for Galaxy' fans. Sometimes in any sport, results find a way to even out. There is a reason you hear the saying, "they are due." Let's hope that this time around that doesn't fit, and that Chivas USA are not "due."
Similar to LA, Chivas USA is solid defensively, and that begins with quality goalkeeping. Zach Thornton produced 12 shutouts in 27 appearances this season in league play, and in the process earned a 0.87 GAA, the best in MLS. You could easily attribute that to Chivas USA's fast start in the first two and a half months of the year. During that span, Thornton's club lost just twice and looked as though they were going to run away from the rest of the teams in the West. Then just as most teams do in this league, Chivas hit a bump in the road, before finding their form in the final months of the campaign. For the record, Thornton posted half of the twelve shutouts in the final months of the season, and was a big reason that Chivas got back on track, and into the postseason. The former Fire net-minder is getting older, but like NFL quarterbacks, seems to be playing some of his best soccer in years at 36.
Offensively there are two players LA must keep a close watch on, Eduardo Lillingston (8G,2A) and Sacha Kljestan (5G, 3A). There are other weapons in Preki's arsenal, such as Galindo, Braun, and Maicon Santos, but it is Lillingston and Kljestan that are the catalyst for the attack. Lillingston is one of a few Latin players that had adapted to the physical and fast paced style of MLS in his first season. A twelve year veteran of Mexican soccer, including the last five with Tecos, you can bet that not only is Lillingston used to playing in pressure games like the one expected on Sunday, but that he also knows the ingredients it takes to earn a result in the first leg of the home and home series. Equally, Sacha Kljestan has played a hand in several of the matches between Chivas and the Galaxy in his now four years with Chivas. Kljestan has amassed one goal and six assists against the Galaxy in regular season play, but the playoffs are a different element. The Huntington Beach native, has been playing the best soccer of his young career over the past two seasons, evident in the fact that he has come into the U.S. National Team fold on a regular basis. That has helped him technically on the field, but even further with the way he reads the game. I think he is more dangerous when looking to create opportunities for others, rather than looking for his own shot. Of course, he is not too bad at that either!
Well what about our own guys, Rogo? LA had some flashes of brilliance in the game against San Jose, and it starts with the Donovan's. Ricketts again came up with the big saves when called upon, and then Landon did it at the offensive end. I know I always say great things about Ricketts, but really he is arguably one of the best keepers in this league. As for Landon, I think it will be quite interesting to see if Landon raises the one trophy that has eluded him in this league, MLS MVP, in the coming weeks. Although he did not have the most goals in MLS this season, he certainly had some very influential and timely ones. Besides if the award went to the player with the most goals, he would have captured it last year with 20. But, just as Jeff Cunningham and Conor Casey will find out, you can be atop the league scoring stats, but if your club does not qualify for the playoffs, you are not likely to win the MVP race.... Stay tuned.
Aside from Ricketts and Donovan, there were some other performances that need to be mentioned. I thought Gregg Berhalter had one of his most complete performances since joining the team. Berhalter is in to lead the back four, and when he does well with his starting positions, the communication part seems to go smooth. It's when Gregg is not in the right spots to defend that he finds himself asking for others like Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin or Todd Dunivant to come in and help, thus opening space in other areas of the back four.
Dema Kovalenko looked to be back, including some nasty tackles in the middle of the field. Dema, I mean that in a good way! In an odd way, the time away from the team due to injury has served Kovalenko well. Dema looks very fresh and has a good spring in his step, which will come in handy for the playoff run to MLS Cup. David Beckham also looks to have some extra spring in his step, guess heading to the post season for the first time in a Galaxy uniform will do that for you! I know I have been wrong more than right in this column this season, but something tells me that the near miss on the free kick chance against San Jose for Beckham will lead to a make in the playoffs against the rivals. Lastly, Chris Klein coming in as a sub in the second half and providing an immediate impact, serving the ball into the path of Donovan for the games second goal. Go back and watch the tape of Klein celebrating the goal...classic!
Now let's just hope that we see some more of that on Sunday and all month long.
