A week ago, FC Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 at Pizza Hut Park, a victory that clinched the regular season Western Conference title and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs. But this weekend the Hoops head to L.A. for the rematch at The Home Depot Center -- a place where they have never beaten the Galaxy in eight attempts.
FCD will not be content to play out the string and put it on cruise control against the Galaxy, who were eliminated from playoff contention by virtue of last Saturday's setback to the Hoops. They instead want to build some momentum heading into the playoffs, which begin next weekend.
"We want to go into the playoffs feeling good," said FCD head coach Colin Clarke. "We haven't won there against L.A. in some time and it would be good to put that right. We've beaten Chivas there, so it's not the field. L.A. has always been a good team on their home field over the years. We want to get a good result on Saturday and take that into the playoffs."
The Home Depot Center has been a virtual house of horrors for the Hoops since it opened. They went 0-1-1 against Chivas USA in Carson this year after being a perfect 2-0 against them there last season and are 0-8-0 all-time against the Galaxy there. FCD's last win against the Galaxy in southern California came on Sept. 6, 2000, when they won 1-0 at the Rose Bowl.
"We haven't won at the Home Depot Center against them," said FCD right back Bobby Rhine. "So that serves as a motivating factor for us. Knowing that we got a good result against them last Saturday, we want to keep that going. In many ways, it was a good performance. We should go on the road and treat it as a playoff game and prepare with that type of mentality heading into the playoffs."
In FCD's last visit to play the Galaxy on Aug. 20, they fell 2-0. L.A. midfielder Landon Donovan chipped a ball over the head of Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala in the 26th minute. Newly-acquired Santino Quaranta struck another, and deciding, blow for L.A. in first-half stoppage time when his blast caught Sala flat-footed.
Last weekend, the Hoops' first goal came from Carlos Ruiz, who got his team-leading 13th goal of the season, connecting on a header after midfielder Richard Mulrooney sent a perfectly-placed free kick to the far post. Kenny Cooper added his 11th goal of the year in the 47th minute for FCD. Donovan broke through for the Galaxy in the 71st to make it interesting, but the match finished 2-1.
Even though last week, the Hoops clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they view this week's battle with the Galaxy as anything but unimportant.
"I wouldn't say it's meaningless at all," said FCD center back Drew Moor. "If anything, it's a very meaningful game for us to get ready for the playoffs. Whoever is out there playing has to go out there to get the result and help build some momentum heading into the playoffs. We're going to come out ready to play and get the three points."
Clarke will likely go with the same lineup used in last week's win. Ruiz and Abe Thompson will play up top. The midfield will feature Cooper on the left, Ronnie O'Brien on the right with captain Simo Valakari and Mulrooney in the middle.
The back is also set with Rhine on the right, Chris Gbandi on the left, Moor will be joined in the middle by veteran Greg Vanney. In goal for the fourth consecutive game will be Shaka Hislop with Sala still on the shelf because of a calf strain suffered in a 3-2 loss at Real Salt Lake on Sept. 16.
FCD will likely have to wait until Sunday to learn who they will face in their Western Conference Semifinal Series which will begin next weekend. Their foe can either be Chivas USA, Colorado or Real Salt Lake.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
