Saturday night's match between MLS Western Conference-leading FC Dallas and the Los Angeles Galaxy at Pizza Hut Park marks the regular season home finale for FCD. A win by the Hoops, who clinched a playoff spot two weeks ago with a 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake in Frisco, and they will clinch home-field advantage for the rest of the playoffs.
The outlook is not so rosy for the Galaxy, who must win their final two games, both against FCD, and then get some help to make the postseason. After meeting the Hoops this weekend, the West sides will face off again at the Home Depot Center on Oct. 14 -- a place where FCD has never beaten L.A.
For the Galaxy to get the right to try and defend their 2005 MLS Cup championship, besides winning out, they must have Chivas USA lose out, Colorado earn no more than two points in their last two games or Real Salt Lake earn no more than four points in their last two games. Two of those must happen for L.A. to make the playoffs.
"It's going to be a tough game," said FCD head coach Colin Clarke. "They need to win, so they will come out and get after it. We want a win for different reasons. We want to win our conference in our last game at home. It would be nice to get another win heading into the playoffs."
FCD comes off a disappointing 3-1 loss at Columbus last Saturday. The game was played in sloppy conditions at Crew Stadium and the Hoops played accordingly, trailing 3-0 before a late goal by Carlos Ruiz kept the home side from the clean sheet.
L.A. blanked their archrivals Chivas USA 3-0 last weekend in Carson. The Galaxy got goals from Peter Vagenas, Cobi Jones and Alan Gordon to keep their postseason aspirations alive and kicking.
Hoops captain Simo Valakari knows this weekend's match will offer a playoff-like atmosphere for all involved.
"It's like a playoff game," he said. "They're fighting for their lives and we want to knock them off because they are champions and play like they want it."
FCD left back Chris Gbandi says his team's goal is simple: get it done against L.A.
"I think we need to finish it at home," he said. "We have a great home record. We have a bunch of guys here who love to compete. L.A. is a cocky team and deserve to be after (what they did) last year. We feel like we have to pick up the intensity a little bit with the playoffs about to start."
On May 10, the sides met in Frisco with FCD coming away with a 1-0 victory in the final game for Chris Albright and Landon Donovan before leaving for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The Hoops prevailed despite going a man down in the 43rd minute after right back Bobby Rhine was sent off for a hard tackle on the Galaxy's Ned Grabavoy.
Then, on August 20 in Carson, L.A. got a measure of revenge by beating the Hoops 2-0 at The Home Depot Center. They got first-half goals from Donovan in the 26th and newly-acquired Santino Quaranta in stoppage time to take the victory.
For Gbandi, his rationale for the Hoops wanting to polish off the Galaxy this weekend is pretty simple.
"It's kind of funny because if we don't beat them (on Saturday), we might have a chance to play them in the playoffs and we don't want that," he said. "Let them sit at home and watch us play for once. It's important for us to get the victory, close this thing out and get rid of L.A."
Clarke admits that he is done resting his starters. That means he will employ a lineup of Ruiz, who leads the team with 11 goals, and Abe Thompson, second on FCD with six assists, up top.
The midfield will feature all-star Ronnie O'Brien and Dallas native Kenny Cooper, second on the team with 10 goals, on the wings. The central midfield will be anchored by Valakari and Richard Mulrooney.
Gbandi and Rhine will play at left and right back, respectively, with the center backs being veteran Greg Vanney and second-year player Drew Moor. In goal for the third consecutive game will be Shaka Hislop.
He first earned the starting nod two weeks ago against RSL when usual starter Dario Sala suffered an injured right calf. Earlier this week, it was announced that Sala would miss several weeks because of that injury, meaning Hislop will finish the season as the starting 'keeper with Sala likely available for the opening round of the playoffs.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
