The Los Angeles Galaxy head into Sunday's game against the Columbus Crew sitting on the precipice of their season. A win will vault the club into the thick of the playoff race. A loss will essentially reduce their remaining games into playing for pride.
Columbus is one of the teams the Galaxy is currently chasing in the playoff race. A win moves the Galaxy to within four points of the Crew with a game still in hand. A loss puts them 10 points behind with four games to play, all but eliminating them from any playoff hope.
"You can't understate it at this point. Every team we play against at this point, we're going to need the points," said Galaxy's Pete Vagenas. "But facing a team we're trying to catch makes all the difference. We desperately need this one."
Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop further magnified the intensity of Sunday's contest likening it to a playoff game. It really is lose and go home; except the Galaxy would have four more games left before starting an early vacation.
"It's a huge game for us. It's a cup final for us. It's like a playoff game. If you win it you're right back in the thick of it," said Yallop. "If you lose it, you're going to struggle to catch Columbus. I feel the guys are going to be ready for it, and we're excited."
The reason the Galaxy is heading into Crew Stadium with a bit of confidence is their current run of form. Los Angeles has won two in a row and has gone unbeaten in their last three. It's the first time all year the Galaxy have managed to string together positive results, and it has them believing that they can continue that trend.
"If we continue to defensively keep it tight, then I think we have a shot. It's a game we look forward to because we've started to notice things going our way," said Vagenas. "When that happens, you want to play as many games as possible. Everyone is pretty excited and anticipating this next one."
The key for the Galaxy defensively will be to limit the number of set piece opportunities Columbus gets around their goal. Columbus has been very effective from dead ball situations thanks to the deadly accuracy of Guillermo Barros Schelotto on crosses. The Galaxy's back four will be trying to push their line out a bit higher than normal to try and avoid giving up unnecessary fouls around their penalty area.
"If we can confront them further up the field and not be camped out in front of our goal, then we have a chance," said Yallop. "If we get camped in front of our goal, then they have a lot of good players to hurt you."
As if the playoff implications weren't enough, the history that the Galaxy and Crew share will only add to the intensity. With players like Ned Grabavoy, Ezra Hendrickson, and Alejandro Moreno all being former Galaxy players and Sigi Schmid being the old manager, Columbus has some added motivation to be the team to all but end LA's playoff hopes.
"With Sigi being the old coach of the Galaxy and there being a lot of players who have played for both sides, it's a good matchup," said Yallop. "We now are the one who have to take this game as if it's our last."
A number of breaks have gone in favor of the Galaxy in their last couple of games. They will need a couple more breaks and a very solid game on both sides of the ball if they are to keep their current run going. If they do, then Los Angeles will become a very real participant in the MLS playoff conversation.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
