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LA Meets Columbus in Impact Game of the Week

September 21, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Impact Game of the Week: Los Angeles Galaxy at Columbus Crew, Saturday, Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. ET

After a four-year absence from the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Los Angeles Galaxy are not only within striking distance of the playoffs, but are also vying for their first Supporters' Shield since 2002. Behind inspired play from midfielder David Beckham and Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, the Galaxy rebounded from a 6-3 drubbing to defeat Toronto FC 2-0 last weekend.

The victory set up a heavyweight clash of two of the best teams in the League, in the Galaxy and defending MLS Cup Champions the Columbus Crew. With a victory, each has the chance to improve their playoff position and their positioning in the race for the Supporters Shield. The teams tied their only previous meeting this season 1-1, on May 17 at The Home Depot Center.

Beckham had his best game of the 2009 season on Saturday when he scored the opening goal, provided an assist on Edson Buddle's clinching goal, and had several other near misses versus Toronto FC. Buddle started his ninth game of the season and provided Bruce Arena's squad with a spark by scoring his fifth goal of the season. Buddle began his career in Columbus in 2001 and scored 42 goals for the Crew.

The Crew are benefiting from Guillermo Barros Schelotto's return to health after a hamstring injury. After falling two goals behind the Chicago Fire on Saturday, Schelotto and Robbie Rogers brought the Crew back. The dynamic attacking midfielders combined on the first goal, and Schelotto converted a penalty kick to salvage a tie.

Both teams boast firepower and defensive prowess, creating some fascinating matchups. Buddle and Landon Donovan have combined for 15 goals this season, while Schelotto and Eddie Gaven have combined for 17. Each team allows an average of 1.12 goals per game - tied for the fourth best in MLS.

Omar Gonzalez, a 6-foot-5 rookie center back, guards the area in front of MLS Newcomer Donovan Ricketts, who has six shutouts. For the Crew, Chad Marshall has followed his 2008 Defender of the Year and Best XI campaign with another great season. Behind Marshall is goalkeeper William Hesmer, who ranks just ahead of Ricketts with a 1.07 goals against average.

One more factor to consider: the Crew are the only team undefeated at home this season; they boast an 8-0-4 record.

MLS Cup Playoffs Race: Supporters' Shield Race Heats Up; Toronto, RSL Slip

A new Playoff Standings page now appears on MLSnet.com to allow fans an at-a-glance way of tracking the chase for wild card spots and automatic berths.

In Week 27 action, the Galaxy and Dynamo made the most noise. LA recorded a resounding 2-0 victory over Toronto FC, which propelled them into the race for the Supporters' Shield. The Dynamo squandered a two-goal lead, and then recovered for a 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake. The win kept them atop the Western Conference and they remain a contender for the Supporters' Shield.

Columbus and Chicago played to a tie, and remained first and second in the Eastern Conference. The Crew are the League leaders with 43 points and two games in hand over Houston. Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC suffered heartbreak as their inconsistent form has both clubs facing a steep climb to make the playoffs.

If the season were to end today, five teams out of the Western Conference would qualify for the playoffs,. But the season does not end today, and the current rankings cannot account for the uneven amount of games played. Each club has between three and seven games left to secure one of eight spots before the MLS Cup Playoffs begin Oct. 29.

Eight teams qualify for the playoffs. Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season. All 15 teams will have played 30 games. The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 & 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets. The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive "wildcard" berths:

The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first. If more than four teams qualify from one conference, the team(s) finishing lower than fourth in its conference will shift over to the other conference bracket. A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket.

As of today, the top two teams in each conference and four wild card teams that would qualify for the playoffs (bold print), the order in which they would be seeded, and their total Points (in parentheses), and Games Remaining [in brackets] is as follows:

Eastern Conference: Western Conference:

Rk Team Pts GR Rk Team Pts GR

1. Columbus (43) [5] 1. Houston (43) [3]

2. Chicago (40) [4] 2. LA (41) [4]

3. D.C. United (36) [4] 3. Seattle (38) [4]

4. Toronto (34) [4] 4. Colorado (37) [5]

5. New England (34) [6] 5. Chivas (37) [6]*

6. Kansas City (30) [5] 6. RSL (34) [4]

7. New York (17) [4] 7. FC Dallas (27) [5]

8. San Jose (21) [7]

* As the fifth qualifier from the West, Chivas USA would move over to the Eastern Conference bracket for the playoffs.

Previewing Week 27: Sept. 23-27, 2009

(All Times Eastern)

Wednesday, September 23

San Jose Earthquakes at Colorado Rapids, 9:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The two teams meet in the back end of their home-and-home series over five days, after the Rapids got a stoppage-time penalty kick to come back for a 1-1 draw last Friday evening at Buck Shaw Stadium. Conor Casey duly converted the spot kick, giving him 14 goals for the season and maintaining his lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings by one goal ahead of FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham and two ahead of the Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The draw snapped a four-game road losing streak for Colorado; Wednesday's game is one of just two they have remaining at Dick's Sporting Goods Park over their final six games as they look to maintain their hold on a wild card spot. The Quakes are barely alive in the race for a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs; the trip to Commerce City is the first five road games in their final seven matches on the campaign.

Saturday, September 26

Los Angeles Galaxy at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Two of the best teams in MLS meet in the Impact Game of the Week. Since June 20, when both teams suffered defeats, they have combined for 15 victories and just three losses in their last 23 games. Each team's Designated Player is in top form. LA's David Beckham had a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win on Saturday, and the Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto broke a 10-game scoring drought with two goals in a 2-2 draw with Chicago. Schelotto, the 2008 Major League Soccer and MLS Cup MVP, has 12 goals this season, two behind Colorado's Conor Casey for the MLS Golden Boot.

Seattle Sounders FC at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The Revolution (9-8-7, 34 pts), are fifth in the Eastern Conference and eager to snap a three-game winless streak. Sainey Nyassi scored a sensational goal in a 1-1 draw with New York. Seattle (9-6-11, 38 pts) tied Chivas USA and extended their unbeaten streak to four. New England defeated the Sounders 1-0 Aug. 20 with a goal from Shalrie Joseph. The Sounders boast a League-best 0.92 goals against average, but have scored just five goals in their past nine MLS matches.

Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wizards, 8:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The Wizards hope they can carry the momentum of a two-game winning streak against a weary Colorado team. The Rapids will be playing their second game of the week. Kansas City leads the all-time series 19-17-8, but lost 2-1 on March 28 in the Rapids' home opener. Jimmy Conrad scored his first goal of the season for Kansas City, the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas last week. Josh Wolff and Conor Casey have been hot - Wolff has four goals in his past four games; Casey three in three.

Real Salt Lake at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- FC Dallas (7-12-6, 27 pts) saw their playoff hopes reduced to threads in a 3-2 loss at Kansas City. Real Salt Lake (9-10-7, 34 pts) are still in legitimate contention, but want three points to stay in the hunt. A tie helps neither team. Both teams have dynamic attacking players in Jeff Cunningham (13 goals) and Robbie Findley (10 goals). RSL defender Jamison Olave will sit out this match with a red card suspension.

Toronto FC at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The League's newest Designated Player, Toronto midfielder Julian de Guzman made his debut in a 2-0 loss last weekend. The Reds came up against a stout LA defense and inspired play. They hope to improve upon his debut, and upon their recent form. Toronto has won only once in their last five games and scored only three goals during that stretch. Chicago, meanwhile, look to Brian McBride who, in his second game back after shoulder surgery, set up a Peter Lowry strike against Columbus. Fire attacker Chris Rolfe has scored three goals in four career games against Toronto, including one in Chicago's 2-0 victory at BMO Field in May.

New York Red Bulls at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- While the Red Bulls continue their tryouts for 2010, they can also play spoiler for Chivas USA, one of several teams on the playoff bubble. The all-time series is 3-3-3, but Chivas has not lost to New York at The HDC since their inaugural 2005 campaign. In Seattle last week, Zach Thornton made several show-stopping saves for his league-leading 10th shutout, and his GAA (0.78) is best in MLS. Thornton began his career with the MetroStars, playing six games in 1996-97, and spent half of 2008 with the Red Bulls as an unused backup.

Sunday, September 27

San Jose Earthquakes at D.C. United, 3:00 p.m. (Telefutura)

- When the teams met on July 25, a pair of Christian Gomez goals put United up 2-0 in the first half, but San Jose rallied to earn a 2-2 draw with goals from Ryan Johnson and Cornell Glen. Earthquakes midfielder Bobby Convey notched eight goals and 16 assists for D.C. United in his first five seasons as a pro. This will be his first MLS match at RFK Stadium since July, 2004. Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop was an assistant at D.C. in 2000, the same year Convey debuted at age 16.

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