The Los Angeles Galaxy will take to the road for the first time this season when they travel to Real Salt Lake for the first contest of a three-game road swing, facing last year's expansion team on Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Galaxy have gotten off to a slow start this season, managing just a single win in their four matches thus far. Technically, the win was a road game, coming against Chivas USA. But the Galaxy never left Southern California, playing in the friendly confines of their home stadium, The Home Depot Center.
The Galaxy hasn't enjoyed much success away from The Home Depot Center in recent years. In fact, their record on the road last season was downright abysmal, going 1-10-3 not including the two "road" wins against Chivas USA. With the Galaxy's slow start so far this season, Saturday's game takes on an even greater importance.
"The first game of a road trip is always the toughest to set the tone. This carries more implications than just another road game for us," said Galaxy captain Pete Vagenas. "This is the first of us going out on a three game trip and it would be nice to get off on the right foot."
What will make Saturday's game even more difficult is that Real are still searching for their first win of the season, having not won since last August. With Salt Lake playing in front of their home crowd the Galaxy are facing a stern test, despite their opponent's record. Salt Lake will certainly come out the more aggressive side, and the Galaxy will need to match that effort to get the result their looking for, something L.A. has struggled to do all year.
"We need to come out with the proper mindset. We need to go out and get on top of these guys," said center back Tyrone Marshall, whose status is still in doubt for Saturday. "We have to play our game, get on top of them early, and score some goals."
Ironically, Galaxy head coach Steve Sampson feels that getting away from Southern California might be the shock to the system that his team needs.
"Our preseason was cut short. We've been here (in Los Angeles) an awfully long time," said Sampson. "Maybe a change in atmosphere will be helpful for us. I don't think going on the road will be a negative for us."
June is fast approaching, which means that U.S. international Landon Donovan will almost certainly be heading for Germany and the World Cup. Chris Albright might join him on the U.S. squad, while Cornell Glen has been tabbed to play for Trinidad & Tobago in Germany.
Last year the Galaxy managed to weather the storm without their international players before making a run to the MLS Cup. If the Galaxy don't turn things around quick, they might be digging themselves a hole too deep to climb out of, making this three-game road trip crucial.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
