As difficult as it might be to believe, the Los Angeles Galaxy still have a legitimate chance to make the MLS Cup Playoffs.
First, the basics. The Galaxy are currently tied for 12th place in the MLS overall table, with 21 points (along with Toronto FC). Sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot are the Chicago Fire, 11 points ahead of LA. In addition to Chicago, the Galaxy will need to catch and pass Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and the Columbus Crew over the course of the final month of the season.
Keep in mind though that the Galaxy still have two games in hand on all four of those teams. Then take a look at the remaining schedules of the teams they are chasing and you can see why there is still a glimmer of hope in the Los Angeles Galaxy locker room.
"I looked at the schedule too and said 'well, that's a hard game for them and that's a really hard game for them.' That's for most of the team's we're chasing," said Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop. "But we have to take care of our own business."
For the Galaxy, taking care of their own business will mean doing something they haven't done all season long: going on an extended unbeaten run. If the Galaxy can manage to string together a series of wins, they could go into their season finale against Chicago with a playoff spot on the line.
"I've looked through all the scenarios and in my mind we've got two games in hand against Chicago, so you figure that's six points. We're 11 behind right now. And we play Chicago, so that's three more," said Galaxy right back Chris Klein. "So we have to make up two points on them that we don't have anything to do with. For me that's something we can do."
Take into account Chicago's remaining schedule. They are on the road against Chivas USA this weekend. Then they play host to the New England Revolution and visit D.C. United. They are playing the three best teams in the league before closing out the season against the Galaxy. It's not an enviable schedule.
It's not any easier for Columbus, who the Galaxy play on Sunday in a crucial six-point swing game. The Crew's remaining three games after Sunday are at home against FC Dallas, then they finish on the road at New England and D.C. United.
Colorado might have the easiest schedule of the teams the Galaxy are chasing. Two very tough road games against New England and Chivas USA are buffered by home games against Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake. That RSL game could be tricky, however, as Salt Lake has a chance to win the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time in the history of the rivalry.
Everything has to go perfectly for the Galaxy in order for them to make the playoffs, but the schedules their opposition have to face make it conceivable that they could sneak into the eighth and final playoff spot on the last weekend of the season. Even if the other results do go their way though, Los Angeles has to get its own results. It's something they squad is very aware of.
"You've got to win games. At this point we're going to need to get breaks to get the results that we need," said Klein. "Is it probable, maybe not, but at this point in our minds it's something where we have to win our games and try and make it interesting in the end. If at the end of the day it's not enough we look at the points we missed. I think the attitude of this team has to be that we can still make the playoffs."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
