CARSON, Calif. -- Giovani Dos Santos says he's ready for anything when the LA Galaxy face off Sunday afternoon at home against Portland (7 pm ET; FS1), and good thing. So important are the encounter with the Timbers, and next weekend's regular-season finale at Sporting Kansas City, that they might as well be playoff games.
Dos Santos, who missed last weekend's USA-Mexico battle at the Rose Bowl after straining an adductor in LA's draw at Seattle on Oct. 4, says he can play 90 minutes, no problem.
“I'm healthy now,” he said after LA's training session Friday morning at StubHub Center. “I feel fit, I've been training for three days with the team, and I didn't have any problems, so I think I'm ready for Sunday's game.”
It's a vital encounter for both the Galaxy (14-9-9), who have a lengthening shot at the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield titles but need points to grab a top-two seed and skip the wild-card round of the MLS playoffs, and for the Timbers (13-11-8), who are fighting for a postseason berth.
LA are three points behind Western leaders FC Dallas and Shield leaders New York and have, on paper, a tougher final two games than both of them. Four Western teams can still pass the Galaxy, and the showdown with Kansas City could be for the No. 2 seed.
“I think [the Shield] would almost be a bonus,” Steven Gerrard said. “We know what the main priority is, and it's the MLS Cup. If we were to manage to sneak in and nick the Shield, we would be very happy, but, of course, it's about six points at the moment -- that's our main focus.
“And we believe that not many teams will want to play us over two legs in the playoffs, because we will be good.”
The Galaxy's mentality is that the playoffs already have begun. Sunday's game is must-win.
“We can't afford any mistakes or any performances where we don't show up,” Gerrard said. “This is almost like every game is like a cup final, so we have to have that mentality where it's all about that 90 minutes, and we leave everything out there on the pitch.”
A Kansas City loss Friday night at San Jose would help LA's cause, and they'll also be rooting for Real Salt Lake on Saturday against Dallas and Philadelphia on Sunday vs. the Red Bulls.
“I'll have my eye on the games [this weekend], but the important thing, in my experience over the years, is to always focus on what you're doing yourself,” Gerrard said. “It's so easy to think, 'If they drop points, we may only need this,' but if we win our games, then there's nothing to worry about -- I'm sure we'll finish first or second [in the West].”
Said captain Robbie Keane: “If [we don't win the Shield], it's not meant to be. As long as we get the first or second spot, that would be all right.”
They'll seek all these rewards at close to full strength. Left back Robbie Rogers, who left the Seattle game with a hip injury, and midfielder Baggio Husidic, out the past two games with a minor knee ailment, also are ready to go.
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“This is as close to us being healthy as it's been the whole year,” head coach Bruce Arena said.
Arena last week reported that Dos Santos could be sidelined two to three weeks, but the Mexican forward said a week away from the field was enough. The artificial surface at CenturyLink Field, he added, played a role in the injury.
“I've been feeling [something] for two weeks before the game, so playing on the turf was a little bit different for me, and I think it contributed to my injury getting a little more worse,” Dos Santos said. “It's the same [injury from the CONCACAF Gold Cup], my groin.
“If I [don't] feel healthy enough, I'm not going to put myself in a bad position. I'm smart with that. If I feel something tomorrow or [during] the game, I will [protect] my body.”
