Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy
2014 MLS Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Championship, Leg One
Sunday, November 23; 2:00 pm PT; StubHub Center
TV/Radio: ESPN; 770 KTTH; ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
It wasn’t until about halfway through the season that Sounders FC started realizing what was possible in 2014. Sitting atop the table and still alive in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the team set its sights on winning every trophy possible.
The Sounders are now just three matches away from achieving that goal, which would make for the first-ever American treble. The first two of those matches are a home-and-home series with rival LA Galaxy in the MLS Western Conference Championship.
Seattle and LA clash in the First Leg on Sunday, when Head Coach Sigi Schmid will try to guide his team to another positive result at the StubHub Center.
“This is what you play for. This is what you work for all season,” Schmid said. “You want to be at a point where you’re playing now. There’s only four teams left at this stage that are playing, and 15 teams are done. Every player that’s done would love to be still training this week and preparing for this type of a game.”
The Western Conference Championship features a pair of legendary coaches, two Volkswagen MLS MVP finalists, and some of the greatest American soccer payers of all time. Its winner will host the 2014 MLS Cup Final on December 7.
In order to overcome LA, Sounders FC will need to maintain the stellar defense it has played in the past three games.
The Galaxy led MLS in scoring during the regular season, but Seattle shut them down on October 25 to clinch the Supporters’ Shield. Then in the Conference Semifinals, a talented FC Dallas side managed just one goal – a penalty kick at home – against the Seattle backline.
“We knew at the end of the day, you have to defend well if you want to win a championship,” Schmid said. “And I think the team has really taken that to heart.”
When the Galaxy hosted Seattle on October 19, the Sounders came from behind to earn a crucial 2-2 draw. Clint Dempsey and Lamar Neagle scored in a three-minute span to give Seattle the upper hand heading into the season finale. If they can replicate the two outcomes against LA from last month, the Sounders will play in their first MLS Cup Final.
“I’m sure it will still be two difficult games, but we got confidence from those two games,” Dempsey said earlier this week. “They were two games that we needed to get the right result to win the league, and for us to go to the final, we’re going to have to get the right result as well.”
The Galaxy were missing All-Stars Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez the last time they faced Seattle. On Sunday, the Sounders could be without one of their stars.
Central midfielder Osvaldo Alonso suffered a hamstring injury in the Second Leg against Dallas. Fortunately for Seattle, the international break gave Alonso two weeks to rest between rounds. Schmid says the veteran wants to play on Sunday and that there’s a chance he will be ready to go.
Though the Sounders have faith in their reserve midfielders, they also know Alonso is one reason why Seattle has won a pair of trophies this year.
“I think everybody realizes how much Ozzie means to us,” captain Brad Evans said. “He just wants to play the game, and most importantly, wants to win. I think that we all feed off that. Hopefully he plays this weekend.”
Sunday’s First Leg is set to kick off at 2 p.m. PT with national television coverage on ESPN.
