The LA Galaxy don't necessarily need to defeat the New York Red Bulls on Thursday night at The Home Depot Center to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win doesn't even assure them of a spot in the postseason. The only result the Galaxy can't afford is a loss, which effectively ends their season a game early.
Putting all the playoff scenarios aside, the Galaxy are trying to continue their current winning streak and pick up the full complement of points for the sixth consecutive game, which would tie the longest winning streak in the league this season and the longest such streak since the 2000 season when MLS did away with the shootout.
Standing in their way is a Red Bulls team looking for a bit of consistency heading into the MLS Cup Playoffs. Although New York has clinched a playoff spot, it's unlikely they are just going to ease through the MLS Primetime Thursday contest. Los Angeles is expecting a dogfight, and is heading into their first showdown of the week with a heightened intensity.
"It's like a cup final obviously for us, trying to get into the playoffs. If we come out right in the game on Thursday we can get a result," said Frank Yallop. "That's important, to try and get that home win. To continue our run and obviously continue our season."
The last time the two teams met they played what was arguably one of the best games in MLS history. In front of a record crowd at Giants Stadium, LA and New York traded nine goals in a back-and-forth affair that saw David Beckham assist on a pair of goals for the Galaxy and the goal-scoring tandem of Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore combine for two goals each for New York.
It's unlikely that nine more goals are in the cards for Thursday's match. The Galaxy back four has certainly tightened things up of late, and will surely have their hands full against the potent New York attack, but it's not the focus heading into the match. The Galaxy are more worried about what they are doing themselves rather than focus on the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.
"I think we've done a great job of just being about us lately. I tell our players about the opposition, we discuss it, we give them the strengths and weaknesses, and then it's about playing," said Yallop. "We feel we can beat anybody, and I think that's important to have."
The Galaxy have already notched some impressive wins during their current run, and a home win against a playoff-bound New York team would add to that list. Three more points against New York keeps all the other teams still in playoff contention watching what the Galaxy are doing, rather than the other way around.
The Galaxy could be further boosted by the return of David Beckham. It's almost a certainty that he won't start, and if he's available at all for selection at all, it's likely he would only come off the bench as a late-game sub if the Galaxy were searching for a goal.
"(Beckham) would be a pretty valuable substitute I would think if he's available for our team," Yallop said. "We know the quality of David and what he brings to the team, so if he is feeling good and we want to do it, we will."
A lot of the pieces have fallen into place for the Galaxy over the course of the last month. A win on Thursday against New York takes the pressure off of their shoulders for a few days and places it squarely on the shoulders of the other playoff hopefuls.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
