Graphic by Thuc Nhi Nguyen // LANG
It all comes down to this.
It’s Decision Day and by 6 p.m. tonight, we’ll finally know how the playoff seeding shakes out. The situation remains the same for the Galaxy: Win and you’re in. A win at Sporting Kansas City gives L.A. the No. 2 seed and that coveted first-round bye. A win could drop them as far as fifth.
Not very long ago, it was early goals that killed the Galaxy. Now it seems like it’s the opposite. With the Galaxy’s reserves giving up a 93rd-minute goal in a CONCACAF Champions League game Wednesday, it’s been three straight games in which L.A. has given up a goal in the 90th minute or later (Seattle, Portland, Comunicaciones).
The Galaxy are hoping their 5-2 loss to Portland was an aberration as they gave up five goals in the final 25 minutes of the game. But it does seem as if the Galaxy are giving up later goals as the season progresses.
Graphic by Thuc Nhi Nguyen // LANG
Associate head coach Dave Sarachan called the late goals a frustrating and complex problem. It’s one the team addresses constantly, but can’t seem to go away.
The Galaxy limp into Decision Day having won just one of their past six matches, a run of poor form due in large part to key defensive lapses.
“Some guys are making mistakes,” head coach Bruce Arena said. “Without making an advertisement or a poster, some guys have made mistakes and are costing us goals.”
Full Decision Day schedule and TV information:
It’s a big day for the league, and MLS has a loaded TV schedule ready with simultaneous kickoffs. The Western Conference games start at 4 p.m. PT after the Eastern Conference games.
If you want to watch more than one game at a time, then MLSSoccer.com has info about how you can pull it off with MLS Live.
