The LA Galaxy won the first leg of the Western Conference Finals 1-0 over the Seattle Sounders. The play was tight and physical. Both teams are content with the first leg result. With the new away goals rule in the playoffs, any draw, Galaxy win, or one goal loss that is not 1-0 will result in the Galaxy advancing on aggregate. Seattle needs to win by two or more goals to advance. If the second leg ends 1-0 after 90 minutes, the series will go to extra time and if no one scores, penalties.
Sunday is do-or-die for both teams. Seattle will look to come out of their defensive shell. LA will look to defend their lead, knowing that if they just score one goal, Seattle will need three because of the away goals. There’s a lot of variables and factors to this second leg.
10 Keys to Galaxy vs Sounders Leg 2
Keeping the theme from my preview to Leg 1, let’s break down the ten biggest talking points:
10. Physical play:
Rough play and questionable tackles were major themes of Leg 1 and have played a part in this rivalry. At the center of controversy were two center backs, Zach Scott and Omar Gonzalez. Both had suspect tackles that could have resulted in suspensions, but both will be available for Leg 2. There is no yellow card accumulation for MLS Cup, so a player can only be suspended by receiving a red card in Leg 2. In this, the gloves are coming off on both sides. Defenders and holding midfielders are going to have to choose between physical disruption (which could result in a foul and booking) and a finesse challenge (potentially lower percentage of winning the ball). Shins will be bruised and set pieces are going to be conceded.
9. Air Marshall:
The 2014 MLS Defender of the Year has been one of the best players for Seattle this year. He came in and organized the back line spacing. He has continued to be one of the best center backs in MLS. He adds a physical aspect that has complimented his partner, Zach Scott. Marshall had several key tackles in Leg 1, possibly goal preventing.
One thing that I noticed in Leg 1 that I hadn’t realized is Marshall’s role on defending set pieces (8 clearances, 2 blocks, and 7 interceptions in Leg 1). Schmidt has had his team man mark but leaves Marshall free to roam and protect the most dangerous spaces in the air. In the case of a corner, Marshall would protect the corner of the six yard box on the near side.
Seattle is going to have to go forward on Sunday as they are behind on aggregate. This is going to open up counter options for LA. Marshall will have to make a crucial stop at some point. Marshall was the biggest reason why LA was inept on restarts in Leg 1. The Galaxy might not get as many chances as they got because Seattle won’t be sitting back, but Marshall must keep up his level of play to prevent a potentially deadly road goal.
8. Temperature and Turf:
It is expected to be cold in Seattle on Sunday. Weather.com has a high of 28 deg and a low of 26 deg. It is expected to snow on Saturday, but Sunday looks clear. The cold isn’t good for hamstrings (more on that in a bit) and it also isn’t good for attacking soccer either. Seattle will have been practicing in it all week. LA has trouble with several climates (altitude, Houston, Vancouver’s turf), but the cold has never seemed to bother them. Both teams will be ready for whatever mother nature brings.
Seattle’s turf is one of the better ones in the league. Arena hates turf and his teams seem to take on his personality. The first 10-15 minutes seem to be a bit rough for the Galaxy passing and holding the ball. The Galaxy don’t need to come out of the gates holding the ball, they just can’t afford any costly turn overs. They did well in that respect in all the games at Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle this year.
7. Injuries:
Ozzie Alonso and Leonardo missed Leg 1 with hamstring injuries from their previous series. Marcelo Sarvas (thigh contusion) and AJ DeLaGarza (precautionary for hamstring pull) were subbed out of the game for injuries.
Seattle is confident that Alonso will be ready. Lamar Neagle is also expected to be back after missing last week due to personal reasons. The Galaxy also feel good. DeLaGarza said that he could have played the full 90 minutes if needed. Sarvas’s injury appears to be very much short term. I expect all four the aforementioned players to be available for Leg 2. While neither team has given a clear cut update, I expect all four guys to be available. Sarvas and Alonso might not start/go 90 minutes because hamstrings do not handle the cold well.
6. Zardes finishing:
Zardes has had an excellent sophomore season in MLS but was streaky throughout the year. His runs and positioning have been good throughout the season. He hasn’t finished some of his chances at time and has had a few bad bounces here and there. He had a good look or two in Leg 1, but Stefan Frei was up to both of them. With Keane and Donovan drawing most of the attention offensively, Zardes is going to get a chance or two. He hasn’t scored in over a month. He needs to finish the chance(s) he gets on Sunday.
5. Galaxy going wide then coming back in quickly:
The Galaxy continued their wide play from the second leg against RSL. Ishizaki and DeLaGarza were dynamic on the right, overlapping and providing lots of service into the box. Donovan did his usual work on the right. Rogers was a bit more conservative at LB because of Yedlin. Seattle however did an excellent job recovering and LA did not have the same amount of time as they did against RSL. Ishizaki would get the ball out wide and would have no defender within 10 yards of him and he had several seconds to check the situation and make a decision. As soon as the ball went out wide against Seattle, there was a defender nearby in hot pursuit and the same options weren’t available.
LA was a bit slower in moving the ball on Sunday. If the ball goes out wide, it needs to be carried down the field or distributed more quickly. Once the ball does go out wide, the attackers without the ball need to do a better job getting open and giving the ball carrier options. Seattle’s coaching staff scouted the second leg against RSL, came up with a good game plan, and it was executed well. The Arena-Schmidt chess match continues.
4. Yedlin and RM v. Donovan and Rogers:
Seattle packed it in and stayed sound defensively. The downside is that several of their breakouts were Dempsey and Martins against seven defenders. Needing a goal, expect the outside players to get more involved in the attack. Yedlin is going to get forward, overlap, and attack. His right midfield partner is going to be key, both in the attack and in providing defensive coverage when Yedlin goes forward. I’d expect Neagle to slot in.
Rogers has been decent at his new position this year. His one-v-one defending has been a pleasant surprise as a RM turned RB. He will have two of Seattle’s fastest players come head on at him and he will need to continue his solid form. Donovan will also provide support in the attack, but he will also look to catch Seattle stretched out if Neagle and Yedlin get caught too far forward. Like many head-to-head matchups and tactical aspects of this series, it is going to be a game of Cat-and-Mouse.
3. Galaxy sit back and counter or continue to play with the ball:
As I argued in the RSL series and as I stressed for Leg 1, the 2014 LA Galaxy are at their best when they are controlling the ball, moving fluidly, spreading it wide, and getting runners into the box. This is not the counter attacking power house of the Beckham days. It’s still an option, but it’s no longer Arena’s favorite tool. I expect the Galaxy to be a bit more conservative than in the last two games. They were at home. Against RSL, they needed a win. Against Seattle, they wanted an advantage going on the road for the second leg.
Now they have a lead and they need to defend it. They should still look to control the play at times and build up. But they need to be careful. Spread the field vertically, but do not throw the same numbers into the box. Seattle will have their horses on Sunday. When they don’t have the ball and Seattle is coming at them, they should weather the storm and then look to play on the counter as well. The wide players could get caught way up the field. A turn over and two good passes later, and Keane, Donovan, and Zardes can be off to the races. They will need to be sharper on the counter than they have been of late to take advantage of the opportunities they will get.
2. Seattle coming out of their defensive shell and attacking:
Seattle has looked lackluster in the attack of late. They played conservatively in both of their road first legs. They gutted out a 1-1 draw in Dallas and did a good job minimizing the damage against LA. Still, in the second leg against Dallas, they sat back at times. They do not have a road goal advantage now. They need goals and I expect them to come out of the tunnel like
When they went forward, Dallas was able to get numbers in the counter. FC Dallas in the attack is like the Flash, if the Flash was a chicken with his head cut off. They had trouble passing once they got into the final third. They were impatient at times. They couldn’t finish. Fabian Castillo could have created three goals on his own in the second leg, but his inexperienced showed.
1. The Stars:
Yes, it’s cliche and obvious, but it’s the truth. Both duos created chances in Leg 1. None of them were buried. Dempsey and Martins created opportunities when it was just the two of them in the attack. Keane and Donovan continued to be dynamic in creating opportunities for themselves, each other, and the supporting cast. Both goalies stood on their heads. Whichever tandem that shows up more on Sunday is probably going to win the game.
Disagree with my list or my order? Hit me up on twitter or comment in the section below.
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