The LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders will battle it out in a home-and-home over the next two weeks to determine which team takes home this year's Supporters' Shield and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. It all starts with this Sunday's nationally televised match at StubHub Center (8 pm ET, ESPN2, TSN2 in Canada).
This week MLSsoccer.com's editors will take a look at the positional battles that will ultimately decide the outcome of both games. On Tuesday, we focus on the defenders.
Monday: Penedo gives the Galaxy the goalkeeping edge
Team |
<strong>Analysis</strong> |
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<p>It doesn't take an analytics buff to understand that one stat reigns supreme when it comes to defensive prowess. You've got to keep the ball out of the back of the net by any means necessary, and LA's got that down pat. They lead the league with just 33 goals conceded, 15 fewer than the Sounders. It makes sense then that they’ve faced the second fewest shots in MLS (334), too. Numbers aside, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/omar-gonzalez" target="_blank">Omar Gonzalez</a> may be the most dominant aerial presence in the league (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/chad-marshall" target="_blank">Chad Marshall</a> certainly has something to say about that), and the big man’s long-time partnership with <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/aj-delagarza" target="_blank">AJ DeLaGarza</a> is a rock solid foundation to build upon. If <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-rogers" target="_blank">Robbie Rogers</a> is healthy and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/dan-gargan" target="_blank">Dan Gargan</a>’s patrolling the right flank, this is unquestionably MLS’ best unit.</p> |
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<p>There have been, ahem, a few frustrating defensive hiccups this year for the Sounders. One game they’ll look dominant, and the next they’ll draw 4-4. Or drop 5-0. Or 3-0. Or 4-1. You get the picture. Seattle’s formula has been to outscore teams, which they’ve done enough to sit tied for the Supporters’ Shield lead, but there are valid concerns about this group outside Marshall and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/deandre-yedlin" target="_blank">DeAndre Yedlin</a>. It’s been a merry-go-round alongside Marshall between <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/djimi-traore" target="_blank">Djimi Traore</a>, <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/zach-scott" target="_blank">Zach Scott</a> and <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/jalil-anibaba" target="_blank">Jalil Anibaba</a> and left back hasn’t been much more consistent. The fact that these struggles came with <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/osvaldo-alonso" target="_blank">Ozzie Alonso</a> camped in front speaks for itself.</p> |
<h2 class="rtecenter">
Edge</h2> |
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