CARSON, Calif. -- Every team, at least in theory, has an advantage when playing at home. The LA Galaxy have taken that to an extreme under Bruce Arena, especially in 2014.
They're 16-1-4 and riding a 20-game unbeaten streak this year at StubHub Center -- that includes two “road” victories over Chivas USA and a CONCACAF Champions League triumph against Club Tijuana -- and that fuels tremendous confidence ahead of their home leg Sunday to open the Western Conference championship series with the Seattle Sounders (5 pm ET, ESPN).
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StubHub's dimensions, 120 yards long by 75 yards wide, complement the Galaxy's attacking approach, and they've scored 55 goals in 20 games against MLS opposition. That jumps to 2.75 per game, with three or more in eight of their last dozen games. Their defense has been just as good, conceding one or no goal in 17 outings.
“I think our field is big, and we're used to playing on this field,” said Landon Donovan, who hopes to have two more StubHub outings, against Seattle and then in the Dec. 7 MLS Cup title game, before heading off into the sunset of retirement. “We have a team that likes to spread out and play the game in a sort of attractive manner -- we like to pass the ball and create chances that way -- so I think that's to our advantage.
“And you have to understand that this is every team's biggest game of the year. So when you factor that into the equation, that you always get their absolute best, it makes [our record at StubHub] even more impressive.”
LA are 80-21-23 at home against league opposition, regular season and playoffs, since Arena took charge in August 2008, and they're 30-3-8 in Carson since dropping the first leg of the 2012 Western Conference semifinal to San Jose.
They should have romped in their lone home loss this season, a 1-0 decision to Real Salt Lake in the league opener back in March. LA were equally dominant in a draw with San Jose in early August and let a late two-goal lead over Seattle disappear in a another tie in their last regular-season home game.
The Galaxy have scored at least five goals three times this year, including the 5-0 dismantling of RSL in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals, and at least three on 10 occasions.
On the other hand, LA aren't so fine on the road. They're 5-6-7 in league games, including the first-leg playoff draw with RSL -- 3-6-7 if you take away two 3-0 wins at Chivas USA -- and 4-9-7 away from StubHub all told.
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But they've shut out 10 visitors, including six of the last nine during a span where they've outscored foes 31-4.
“Just the fact that we do hold down our fort so well is a starting point where teams know they're in for a tough game,” associate head coach Dave Sarachan said. “And then when the lights go on and the whistle blows, when the crowd is what it's been and you've got us pressing, it's not an easy place to play.”
Said Donovan: “The energy and just being here in LA has always been good for us. We're always prepared, we always get a good week of training here at home, and we feel prepared when we get into the game. It's always been helpful."
