Notable: The Galaxy set a new club record tonight for shutouts – 12. Quite a turnaround from last year when the team had just two – a club-record low for a season.
Quotable:
Here’s former Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop on his old club’s playoff outlook –
“They’re well-organized. The big difference in any team is a person like Landon. He makes a good team very good. … They’re difficult to break down, they’re difficult to beat here and that’s going to be important.”
Key stat: Last year the Galaxy allowed a league-worst 62 goals; this year they allowed exactly half that number – 31.
Bonus quotes:
Here’s Landon Donovan reflecting on the season –
“I think back to the beginning of the year when we had all those ties in a row. And I think we were all a little disappointed that we weren’t winning games, but you look back now and three, four, five of those ties have made a difference putting us where we are today. I think we were close then and now we’ve become a complete team and we’re playing very well.”
Here’s Landon Donovan on that smash and grab second goal that started with goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts –
“We’ve become good at hitting things quickly like that and we’ve got some guys with pace, we’ve got good passers and we have that ability to catch teams quickly with a lot of their team already out of the play. It makes a big difference.”
Here’s David Beckham on the performance –
“We’ve played better in games, we’ve passed the ball better in games, but y’know we won the game. It pleased the fans and made us top so y’know we don’t stop here there’s still a lot of work to be done, but we’re happy with the position we’re in.”
Here’s Dema Kovalenko on his tough year that saw him struggle with injuries that restricted him to 14 appearances and two assists –
“It was a very difficult season. I’m just so happy. I pray every day – I thank every day. I’m just glad I’m back playing at the right time. Hopefully, my leg is better. I’m not 100 percent – I miss a long time.”
Here’s Donovan on the comparison between the last Galaxy team to make the playoffs in 2005 and this year’s model –
“This team is a lot further ahead. That year we snuck into the playoffs and I remember Chivas and Salt Lake were expansion teams and the majority of our wins came against those teams. This year we’ve beaten everybody, we’ve beaten the good teams, we’ve beaten the teams we should be beating and I think we have a good foundation for the future. We’ve got everything to gain this year and we have a real chance to win. We’re gonna go for it.”
Here’s Donovan on his U.S. Player of the Year & Decade awards –
“I’m very proud of it. I’ve worked very hard especially over the last three years to get where I am today and it doesn’t mean I’m done, but it’s a big honor for sure.”
Here’s Beckham on his fuzzy face and whether he’s heard that growing a beard is a bit of a playoff ritual over here –
“I only heard about it the other day. Halloween is coming up and I was thinking of Wolverine. It’s nothing to do with any playoff ritual, I’m just lazy – I can’t be bothered to shave. And everyone keeps telling me to cut it, so I’m stubborn.”
Finally, the last word goes to Donovan on the Galaxy profile coming into the playoffs –
“I can’t imagine anyone wants to play us right now.”
Updated 1:20 a.m.: Scratch that. Let’s give the last word to Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan who throws down the gauntlet via Twitter – “In bed… LA locked up 1st place so were playing for 2nd tomorrow… dreaming of goals.”
Good night.
