Galaxy Enter Playoffs As Top Seed
Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena will try to lead his club to the MLS Cup that eluded him last year. (lagalaxy.com/German Alegria)
The Colorado Rapids defeated the Columbus Crew by a score of 1 - 0 to kickoff MLS Cup 2010 Playoff action on Thursday night. Tonight, four more teams will join the party, but Galaxy fans will have to wait until tomorrow to see their team begin their march towards Toronto where this year’s final will be held.
L.A. will enter this year’s playoffs as the top overall seed, the result of another great regular season under General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena which ended last Sunday with a 2 - 1 come from behind victory over FC Dallas. Along with the top seeding, the victory secured the club’s first Supporters’ Shield title in 8 years and their 7th Western Conference title. But for Arena, Landon Donovan, et al., it is more about bringing home the MLS Cup that slipped away in penalty kicks last year.
Donovan is confident about the team’s chances, stating “I don’t think there is any team in this league that has the depth that we do.”
On Sunday evening the blue-and-gold will get their first test as they face Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in Seattle. Ironically, the Galaxy will be facing former Head Coach Sigi Schmid, the man who first brought the MLS Cup to L.A. in 2002, and the last man in charge prior to the turbulent seasons preceding Arena in which the club failed to qualify for the playoffs for three consecutive years.
It will be a tough match, but the Galaxy come into with a psychological advantage. The blue-and-gold embarrassed the Sounders by a score of 4 - 0 at Qwest Field back in May, then followed it up with a 3 - 1 victory at the Home Depot Center in July. But the blue-and-gold shouldn’t expect the same this weekend. Schmid has since rallied his troops and produced the best overall record for the second half of the 2010 campaign.
An excellent match awaits.
Game Details
Galaxy at Seattle Sounders FC
When:Sunday, October 31st, 2010
Time:5:00 PM
TV/Radio:ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, AM 1150, AM 1220