After a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series, the math is simple for Sunday's second leg between the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. A Chivas win sends the Red-and-White to the Western Conference Championship for the first time in club history. A Galaxy win knocks Chivas out of the playoffs in the first round for the fourth consecutive year.
"We're all looking forward to it," said Chivas USA defender Carey Talley. "We're pretty confident that we know how to get at 'em. The games are a week apart and we're just taking it like we're starting over."
After falling behind 2-1 to the Galaxy last Sunday in the first leg of the first-ever playoff SuperClásico, Chivas USA clawed their way back to a 2-2 draw, getting the equalizing goal in the 50th minute of the game.
"The way we ended the game last Sunday was a great," said Jonathan Bornstein. "We had more possession of the game and took it to another level compared to the first half. We have to look at how we played in that second half and carry that over into Sunday and have that same mentality."
The Red-and-White haven't beaten Los Angeles since Sept. 13, 2007. The teams have already met four times this season in league and cup play, with Chivas USA earning an 0-2-2 record against the Galaxy.
"It's been kind of the same every time," said Talley. "The team that's made the most of a little opportunity has come out on top. Unfortunately, that's been them a couple of times."
Chivas USA failed to score against LA in the first three meetings of 2009, but two goals against the Galaxy last Sunday have given the Red-and-White a bit of a swagger.
"We're confident that we can score some goals," said Talley. "We were getting behind them in the second half last week and if it hadn't been for the goalkeeper making a couple of good saves, it might be a completely different story."
The Galaxy will be the home team for Sunday's match and will enjoy the support of a favorable crowd, but Chivas USA aren't worried about LA's "home-field advantage."
"Sometimes when they host the home games it's all white and yellow and blue and you can definitely see it," said Bornstein. "But it's the same stadium and the same field and the same players [as last week]. I don't think it affects [us] that much. You just have to be stronger mentally and be prepared for the game."
Chivas USA has done it every way in their three previous trips to the postseason. They won the first leg in 2005, yet still lost on aggregate to Houston. They lost the first leg each of the last two years, then were unable to overturn the advantage held by Kansas City (2007) and Real Salt Lake (2008).
It's something they are looking to finally reverse this year.
"I think the team that we have this year is really strong," said Bornstein. "It's probably one of the best teams we've had going into the playoffs in terms of depth and in terms of skill level. I think this is a team that can get it done and create that milestone for the club and its players individually."
Jeffrey King is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
