“Sometimes you just have a boogie team, you know, a team that just, for some reason, it just doesn’t work for you. And right now, they’re that team for us. I think they know that in their locker room.”
Sigi Schmid, after 2010 season opening loss, 1-nil to LA Galaxy, March 16, 2011
(The Seattle Times | Sounders FC Blog, Joshua Meyers, Sounders vs Galaxy 3/16/11)
2011 MLS Champion LA Galaxy. Sounders 4-5-2 vs Galaxy in all competitions. 2-5-2 in MLS (including playoffs)
For this LA Confidential sequel, don’t go looking up IMDB (Internet Movie Database) when you have SOS (Sales on Sounders).
Seattle Sounders finally defeated LA Galaxy May 2nd, 2-nil. Stopping a winless streak dating to the 2009 inaugural season. Including regular season and 2010 MLS Playoff matches the Sounders record over that stretch 0-wins, 5-losses, 1-draw. The win in May was worth 3-points for the season, but without LA’s complete star-driven lineup it felt anticlimactic.
Sure, Sounders managed two US Open Cup wins over the Galaxy during that period. But at best the Galaxy were only giving 80% effort in those matches. Which ordinarily would be questionable behavior. If it weren’t for the fact the Galaxy made it clear winning MLS Cups are their priority. They backed that up convincingly winning the 2011 MLS Cup.
LA, Where the Wild Things are.
The Galaxy are loaded with international talent causing nightmares for MLS clubs.
No Galaxy name registers more attention than midfielder, David Beckham. With 6 goals and 9 assists, Beckham has been bending it the way only Beckham knows how. He has been directly involved in 15 of LA’s 39 goals. He’ll be nightmarish for the Sounders on set pieces.
Robbie Keane will make his first appearance for the Galaxy at Century Link Field. Although he has struggled to find the back of net this year, he has registered 52 shots, and tied with Donovan for 9 goals, leading the Galaxy. His struggles were only due to expectation for him to have scored 15-18 goals. He’s also recorded 6 assists. The Republic of Ireland National Team captain, is indeed the kind of nightmare the Sounders defense will have to challenge themselves to survive. His threat to score is as deadly as his ability to score.
When the Galaxy drifted to the bottom of the table earlier this season, all eyes turned on captain, Landon Donovan. Coach, Bruce Arena didn’t panic. Confident he had players with talent and will to pull through a sluggish start. Recently Arena pulled Donovan aside for a brief 1-vs-1. No surprise the Galaxy started climbing the table soon after. With a win over the Sounders, LA would rise to third place in the Western Conference.
“Struggling”, is a relative term in the world of defending champion, LA Galaxy. Landon Donovan continues to lead his team in scoring with 9 goals. He’s also recorded 7 assists, only 2 behind Beckham. It is easy to see why Donovan is the most prolific goal getter the US has produced. Even when he struggles, he’s a difference maker that finds ways to remain on the pitch contributing to the Galaxy’s success.
When LA struggled early on, one key player was absent from their championship squad, Omar Gonzalez. As the Galaxy slowly work back into championship form, it is his presence on defense that haunts opposing clubs.
LA’s three Designated Players: Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, and David Beckham
Juninho is already known as a goal scoring thorn in the Sounders side. Playing at Century Link wont rattle this Brazilian’s football-brain.
Mike Magee doesn’t initially strike fear in opponents. He’s deceiving. Seems like a good guy. Defendable. Then, in the closing minutes of matches, who’s the guy on the end of so many Beckham bending blasts? Magee, Magee, and Magee.
The Sounders have produced a unique ability to win US Open Cups. Since the Sounders 2009 inaugural season they are the only club to touch the cup. Winning three in a row. The name of the trophy is on the verge of being renamed, The Rave Green, Emerald City Cup. Next Wednesday, Sounders travel to Sporting Kansas City to play for their fourth consecutive US Open Cup.
The same can not be said for the Sounders ability to win key Major League Soccer regular season and playoff matches. They continue to be one of the most successful, attack oriented MLS clubs. But they struggle in key MLS matches. LA is one of those teams the Sounders have yet to measure up to.
Keys for the Sounders to exorcise a Boogie:
Don’t give up silly set pieces within Beckham’s bending range. Mark Robbie Keane. If you lose him, then you will find him in the back of your net. Mark up Magee. You can let Magee wander a bit, but watch out for his late runs into the box. When Beckham’s behind the ball, Magee better be covered, or you’ll soon realize he was the target all along.
With Eddie Johnson fully in form, will he be able to find that inch of space he needs to score on Omar Gonzalez? The Omar Gonzalez vs Eddie Johnson matchup may prove to be the key to the match. Another key question, will Osvaldo Alonso be able to hold up LA in the midfield, as he has against so many clubs? Tactically, he surely will. But not allowing LA to get inside his head, which I guarantee is an LA Confidential objective, will be Alonso’s challenge.
There may not be a footy-priest available tomorrow to conduct a Sounders exorcist. But, there will be 60,000 faithful, rave green, screaming fans boisterously believing they can beat a LA Boogie.
© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales
