Without question, Monday's big news was that David Beckham will not be traveling with the LA Galaxy to Frisco for Tuesday night's SuperLiga match with FC Dallas. But all distractions aside, the affair is a must-win for the Hoops because if they can break through with their first victory of SuperLiga, they will advance to the semifinals in two weeks' time.
"I think the focus is on us and what we have to do for this game," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "We want to win for our organization and aren't sidetracked by anything else that's going on. We know that we need to get three points to advance in this competition and that's the most important thing for us."
The Hoops enter Tuesday's match with two points after 1-1 draws with CD Guadalajara and CF Pachuca last week. L.A., on the other hand, has three points after beating Pachuca 2-1 last Tuesday but falling to Chivas 2-1 on Saturday.
June 9 was the last time that the Galaxy and FCD matched up. The Hoops came away with a 3-1 win in Frisco that night against an L.A. side that was without Landon Donovan and a number of other players, who were away with various national teams. Hoops forward Kenny Cooper suffered a broken leg late in that match after a hard tackle from the now-departed Tyrone Marshall, who was sent off for the infraction.
But Morrow realizes that the Galaxy team that he saw nearly two months ago and the current incarnation are two completely different things.
"I think their form has certainly improved of late," he said. "They have a lot of new players on the team and they kind of finally look like they're starting to get to know each other more. They play together more as a team and are more organized. I think their play has certainly improved since the start of the season."
FCD's players know that Tuesday's match promises to be a competitive one with so much on the line.
"If you could have drawn it up before the tournament, everyone would have taken having a chance to go to the semifinals with a win over L.A.," said left back Chris Gbandi. "We have a great opportunity. L.A. is playing well right now and I'm sure that they will come in with a lot of confidence. But we're also playing well and I think it's going to be a good game."
In their first two SuperLiga games, the Galaxy have gotten off to slow starts. They survived against Pachuca, getting a late deflection from Donovan for the game-winner, but weren't as fortunate against Chivas.
"We're very familiar with them," Arturo Alvarez said. "They are a good team and we need a good result to go through to the next round. I think we are looking good. The team is in good spirits and I think that we are going to come out and play like we have in the last two games and put them away early."
One thing about the match that appeals to Morrow is the playoff-like atmosphere that already surrounds the pre-match preparation.
"That's one way to look at it -- that it's good preparation for a playoff situation," Morrow said. "It's a game at home in front of a big crowd that we need to win. It's as close to a playoff situation that you will find in the middle of a season."
In each of FCD's first two games, controversial decisions have been all that have kept the Hoops from getting the full three points in either match.
"It's pleased me the way they have responded in two very big games," Morrow said. "I think they have raised the game and level. They have showed a lot of character and determination to rise to those occasions, match teams and play well. A lot of credit to the boys for the way they have stepped up in the last two games."
However, on Tuesday, FCD will be looking to come out and do something that they have yet to do in SuperLiga -- finish off an opponent early.
"I think that's one of the things that we are looking to do (Tuesday) - come out and try to finish the game out early," Alvarez said. "We want to make sure that we finish our opportunities because we know that we are going to get them."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
