Certainly a team in transition with three new players added in the course of a week, the Los Angeles Galaxy are looking to put together their first winning streak of the season. With the right result against the Columbus Crew on Saturday at The Home Depot Center, L.A. will have a modest two-game winning streak.
The Galaxy's opponent on Saturday is another team that has struggled to get things going. Columbus picked up just its second win of the season on Wednesday, but has been one of the hardest teams to beat, drawing six times. Despite their position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, six teams in MLS have lost more games than the Crew.
"They're a little like us, if you like, in their results," said Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop about Columbus. "I think they've tied six games. They've got guys missing too. Frankie Hejduk is not there and they have three guys missing with the U-20's. They've had their fair share of guys missing."
The familiarity between the teams extends much farther than personnel availability and results on the field. Several players who now ply their trade in Columbus were formerly with the Galaxy. It's something that will make Saturday's game that much more intense.
"Absolutely, for sure it is (a motivating factor)," said Santino Quaranta. "It's going to be one of the toughest games we've played all year. The guys better be ready for it because it's going to be very difficult."
Even Yallop recognizes the extra element of rivalry in the match. His counterpart on the Columbus bench is Sigi Schmid, who led the Galaxy to an MLS Cup in 2005.
"The coach is a bit of a legend here in Sigi," said Yallop. "People always want to do well against the team they left. Whatever the circumstances, it doesn't matter."
If the 2007 season has proven anything, it's that records mean very little come game time. There have been very few teams so far in 2007 that have been dominant from week one to the present. So despite the fact that Los Angeles and Columbus sit towards the bottom of their respective conferences, the Galaxy know better than to take their opponent lightly.
"They're tough. Everyone in this league is good," said Quaranta. "It's going to be a rough game. Columbus is always a good game with our history."
For the Galaxy, they are hoping that they can ride the offensive momentum they gained last Sunday when they defeated Salt Lake. The club's new pieces will have to be integrated quickly if they are to continue to get things turned around.
"We know Sigi, and he'll have his guys well prepared and organized," said Yallop. "We're hoping that the confidence we gained in the win on Saturday will carry us through and we can really attack this back four."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
