Two months ago, the season looked to be over for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Futures seemed to be in doubt for any number of people, and the idea of rebuilding was on the minds of a lot more as the club was faced with missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Heading into the final game of the season, the Galaxy have turned all those doubts around, and are still alive to make the MLS Cup Playoffs. In order for that to happen they will need some help in a couple of Saturday's games and they will have to head into Toyota Park and pick up a win against the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon.
"It's still not a given. We have to go to Chicago and win. That's a tough game. We're hoping that results go for us and we do have a chance," said Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop. "I think eight weeks ago if we'd been saying we'd be going down to the last game we would have thought we were all crazy."
Should the Galaxy's playoff chances still be alive come Sunday, Chicago won't just lay down and give up. The Fire are hanging on to a playoff spot themselves, but Saturday's results could mean they will need a result to get into the playoffs as well.
"That was always the X-factor in this thing. We had to go into Chicago and get a result. That's never a foregone conclusion. It's going to be a very difficult game. They're going to have a lot to play for as well," said right back Chris Klein. "We can do it. We can go there and win. It's not an easy thing to do. Chicago is a good team and their place is a tough place to play in."
If the Galaxy are going to win, they are going to have to contain Cuauthemoc Blanco. The Mexican international has been an unqualified success as a designated player and has been a major catalyst in the second half resurgence of the Fire. If the Galaxy are to have any chance of winning, they are going to have to prevent Blanco from making an impact on the game.
"We just have to be aware of where (Blanco) is on the field at all times," said Galaxy center back Troy Roberts. "He's going to be their playmaker and you just have to keep a close mark on him and make sure he doesn't have the free time to make plays for them."
As it stands right now the Galaxy are going to be heading into Chicago with all guns blazing. As a result, a David Beckham appearance in Chicago is likely. But that could all change by the end of Saturday, if the results don't go the Galaxy's way.
Yallop isn't usually very forthcoming about his starting lineups, and he admitted that the starting 11 he puts on the field on Sunday will be determined by the significance of the game.
"I think that I might change the (lineup) up a little bit. We'll see how the results go on Saturday and see what we need to do," said Yallop. "If it's a nothing game then we'll figure out what we're going to do. Hopefully it's a game that we need to win."
Depending on Saturday's results, Chicago and Los Angeles could be battling for the final playoff spot. There still is a chance that both teams could advance to the playoffs, but more likely than not, one team will be starting their winter vacation on Monday. It's a recipe for an extremely intense game to wrap up the 2007 MLS regular season.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
