For the Los Angeles Galaxy, at this point there really is nothing to lose. They aren't posturing for a better playoff position -- they are fighting for their very playoff lives. There is no point in settling for draws, because sharing points is leaving points on the table, something the Galaxy simply can't afford to do.
The Galaxy come into the MLS Primetime Thursday matchup against the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium 11 points behind the Chicago Fire, who currently hold eighth place overall and the final spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. But just ahead of the Fire are the Wizards, in seventh place with 36 points.
The Galaxy have played 24 games this season, either one or two less than every other club in the league. Thursday's game is one of their "games-in-hand," and they cannot afford not to take three points if they have any hope of reaching the postseason.
"You don't know what you're getting [with K.C.]. The good thing for us is we don't have anything to lose," said Landon Donovan. "There's no point in trying to tie games. We're not going to go crazy. We're a little confident now, we feel like we're playing all right, so we have a chance."
When Kansas City has been on this year, the Wizards have been downright unstoppable. A recent come-from-behind win against Columbus a couple weeks ago, where the Wizards scored two goals in second-half stoppage time, shows they are a team that can score at any time. Add the fact that Eddie Johnson scored back-to-back hat tricks this year, and the Galaxy are facing a team that can be very dangerous on the attack.
Kansas City has also had its fair share of struggles this season. The Wizards have given up more goals than anyone else in the East, including expansion side Toronto FC, and have the second-worst defensive mark in the league. Los Angeles will be trying to take advantage of a sometimes-porous defense to put the Wizards on their heels early on.
"They're a side that's great going forward, but they allow teams to get forward from all types of position. It's up to us to make sure we can catch them on the break if we can," said Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop. "We're not sitting back. We're coming out to win this match. That's the thing that's very important to me. We're going to try and push forward and score the first goal because every team in MLS seems to do well."
The Galaxy actually bucked that trend in their last game, coming from behind for the first time all year to beat Dallas 2-1. They also gave up the first goal against Real Salt Lake a week ago, but eventually came back to take a lead in that game before conceding a late equalizer. It's that kind of fight that has Los Angeles uttering a word they haven't been able to use all season long: momentum.
"We're really rolling and playing the way we should, and we're a tough team to stop no matter who we're playing," said Chris Klein. "We know what Kansas City brings and we feel they are a very good team. They're a team that really gets at you, but we can maybe get at them also."
If the Galaxy win on Thursday, it would mark the first time all season they've won back-to-back games. If they don't, it likely means the end of the road for their future.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.