It's been a different kind of season for the Los Angeles Galaxy thus far. When they return to regular season action this weekend against the New England Revolution, they will have played exactly one league match over a 30-day span.
But fortunately for the Galaxy, they have had the U.S. Open Cup to compete in, and on Tuesday night when they play host to the New York Red Bulls at The Home Depot Center in their second-round play-in game, it will provide another opportunity to keep their season on track.
With the winner of Tuesday's game advancing to the round-of-16 in the tournament proper, for all intents and purposes it will be an actual cup tie. The Galaxy also treat the competition very seriously, always putting it on the list of goals to be achieved at the start of a year. Two years ago they won it for the second time in club history; a year ago, they lost 3-1 in the final to the Chicago Fire.
Still, Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop will need to choose his side wisely against the Red Bulls. The Galaxy last played on April 28, a 3-1 victory against Chivas USA in the first Honda Super Clasico of the season, and while it's important for his side to get a win and advance in the tournament, at the same time he needs to make sure his side is fresh heading into their league contest. As such, Galaxy fans can expect their team to have a few changes in the starting 11.
"A couple of guys are going to play. I want to make sure we're OK for Saturday too," said Yallop. "I've got to look at some scenarios of what might happen in the game against New England (on Saturday) and get some guys some minutes. That's not to take the cup lightly either, because we don't."
It's likely that Yallop will take the same approach as he did against Columbus in the Galaxy's first Open Cup play-in game, when the L.A. rode Nate Jaqua's 17th-minute goal to a 1-0 victory on April 24 at Crew Stadium. In that game, Yallop chose to rest a handful of key starters in favor of a slightly younger side. Yallop has hinted that he will do more of the same on Tuesday. He still feels that he'll have plenty of talent on the field to get a result.
"We put out a strong team in Columbus to win that game," said Yallop. "The guys we put out are the guys we feel are going to get the job done because I wouldn't play them if not."
It's likely that New York's head coach Bruce Arena will employ a similar strategy. For the guys in the team, it's the unpredictability of not knowing how strong of a side your opponent is going to field that can be difficult to prepare for. As such, players like Landon Donovan aren't concerned with who's lining up on the other side of the field.
"It's hard for yourself to prepare. You don't worry about what they're going to put on the field," said Donovan. "You just approach it, go on the field and try to win. When you get on the field you want to win the game. That's what you do."
Yallop feels the same way, but he is expecting New York to field a strong team. There are only so many opportunities to win trophies in a given year, and Yallop expects the Red Bulls to be gunning for some silverware.
"Bruce (Arena) has his eye on the league. He wants to win something I'm sure," said Yallop. "But I can't worry about what they're going to do. I just have to pick a team that's going to win the game."
The Galaxy have gotten the taste of winning now this season, having won their last two competitive games. If a third consecutive trip to the U.S. Open Cup Final is ahead this year, it will just take a little bit longer trip, with the next stop against New York.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
