Galaxy may play biggest game of season tonight without key players
Three points behind co-group leaders Morelia and Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions League play, the Galaxy face a must-win game at 7 o'clock tonight at Home Depot Center against the Mexicans (live on Fox Soccer and Telefutura).
Realistically, if the Galaxy don't win - a tie wouldn't help them much - their international campaign is all but over, but they may have to play Morelia without three of their key players.
The Galaxy may be able to defeat the likes of Columbus without those players in the line-up, but the Mexican club is a tougher proposition and despite the lurid shutout stats goalkeeper Josh Saunders is throwing up this season - he has nine total in all competitions - I still think regular starter Donovan Ricketts has the edge over him and his absence, especially in a game like this, remains a big loss.
There are, sadly, plenty of seats (and free parking, too) available for a crucial game in a competition many fans don't understand.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
The Galaxy are putting together one of the greatest seasons in the history of the league. A 3-loss season and 68 points is within reach. Call me grumpy, but I'd rather they focus on finishing that job, and keep their major players healthy for the MLS Cup playoffs.
I don't see the Galaxy roster (or any MLS roster, for that matter) as being deep enough to do the league, the US Open Cup, and CCL. Real Salt Lake, the best team in the league last year, tried to do it all and now they're struggling with depth, injury and stamina issues. Seattle, God bless them, focuses on the US Open Cup but they're sliding in the league now as well.
If playing all-out in the US Open or the CCL wears out the players and makes an MLS Cup less possible, I'm against it. You've got to have priorities.
I take the opposite approach Inigo. With playoffs confirmed (and I would argue even the supporters shield) the Galaxy are better off focusing their energy on CCL. Once playoff's begin, that becomes the focus.