The Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will clash in the Western Conference Final on Sunday night at the Home Depot Center.
This game is a rematch of the 2009 MLS Cup Final which Salt Lake won on a penalty shootout. Both teams have spoken respectfully about each other this week ahead of what should be a tight and entertaining match.
“I think the games have always really respectfully been played – very competitive, but a lot of good soccer,” Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis told the official MLS website this week.
On the other end, Galaxy star man Landon Donovan said “we’ve consistently – both teams – have been the best in the league for a few years now. It’s not a nasty rivalry, but clearly they’re great games and we expect the same tomorrow.”
The Galaxy advanced this far with a 3-1 aggregate win over the New York Red Bulls. Mike Magee scored two goals across the home and away series, while Landon Donovan sealed the win with a late penalty kick in the second leg.
Sean Alvarado and Leonardo are ruled out with injury for the Galaxy, while Gregg Berhalter and Bryan Jordan are listed as questionable.
Star midfielder David Beckham is also an injury doubt for LA after suffering a back injury during the win over New York. “I’ve had issues with my back all season and it was just a spasm in my lower back,” Beckham told the official MLS website.
Salt Lake advanced courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate win over Seattle Sounders FC. Salt Lake lost 2-0 at Seattle in midweek, but their 3-0 first leg victory was enough to see them through.
“To get our feet back on the ground and to say that the team that won the (first leg) 3-0, that was probably the peak of the peak. And (the second leg) may be the low of the low, so we need to get back somewhere in the middle (against LA),” Salt Lake coach Kreis said this week.
Midfielder Nelson Gonzalez is ruled out with injury for Salt Lake, while defensive pair Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave are questionable with quadricep injuries.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN at 9pm (Eastern Time).
“I think the games have always really respectfully been played – very competitive, but a lot of good soccer,” Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis told the official MLS website this week.
On the other end, Galaxy star man Landon Donovan said “we’ve consistently – both teams – have been the best in the league for a few years now. It’s not a nasty rivalry, but clearly they’re great games and we expect the same tomorrow.”
The Galaxy advanced this far with a 3-1 aggregate win over the New York Red Bulls. Mike Magee scored two goals across the home and away series, while Landon Donovan sealed the win with a late penalty kick in the second leg.
Sean Alvarado and Leonardo are ruled out with injury for the Galaxy, while Gregg Berhalter and Bryan Jordan are listed as questionable.
Star midfielder David Beckham is also an injury doubt for LA after suffering a back injury during the win over New York. “I’ve had issues with my back all season and it was just a spasm in my lower back,” Beckham told the official MLS website.
Salt Lake advanced courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate win over Seattle Sounders FC. Salt Lake lost 2-0 at Seattle in midweek, but their 3-0 first leg victory was enough to see them through.
“To get our feet back on the ground and to say that the team that won the (first leg) 3-0, that was probably the peak of the peak. And (the second leg) may be the low of the low, so we need to get back somewhere in the middle (against LA),” Salt Lake coach Kreis said this week.
Midfielder Nelson Gonzalez is ruled out with injury for Salt Lake, while defensive pair Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave are questionable with quadricep injuries.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN at 9pm (Eastern Time).
