Galaxy-Toronto FC Preview
Something must give Saturday night when the Los Angeles Galaxy visit Toronto FC as Major League Soccer resumes its regular-season schedule following a two-week international break.
The Galaxy had trouble winning on the road (1-2-3) and Toronto FC has had problems winning at home (1-1-2).
Each team is winless in its past four league games.
Right now, a goal would look pretty good to either side.
Toronto FC (4-5-4 overall) has not scored in its past two MLS games and has a 228-minute goalless drought, ninth longest in the league this season. The Galaxy (5-2-6 overall) went into the international break with a 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City on June 2.
The Galaxy's slow start has been a matter of ill-timed mishaps rather than overall play.
"It's been an ongoing problem with conceding weird or bad goals and giving up points," Galaxy forward Mike Magee said. "Other times, we've had slow starts, but we just haven't been good for whatever reason. Now we've been good and we've just had mental lapses."
The Galaxy have not lost in 10 league games against Toronto dating to 2008. Toronto did defeat the Galaxy 2-1 on March 14, 2012, in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals and won the home-and-home series on aggregate 4-3.
It was considered a huge upset at the time. In MLS, the Galaxy have a record that TFC can only envy with five MLS Cups and four times finishing with the league's best regular-season record. Last season, TFC reached the MLS playoffs for the first time since entering the league in 2007.
"They're one of those standard setters, and we want to have a good day against them," Toronto coach Greg Vanney said. "What it is, ultimately, is three points against a team we know is going to be well-organized and is going to be a good team. We have to have the right mentality, play well, play smart and give ourselves the right chances to dictate the game and try to win the game."
Each team will be missing key players Saturday because they are competing in international tournaments.
The Galaxy will be without Robbie Keane, who is with the Republic of Ireland in Europa 2016, and Gyasi Zardes, who is with U.S. team in the Copa America.
Toronto's Michael Bradley also is with the U.S. team at the Copa America and Jozy Altidore is still out with a hamstring injury. Toronto does have Sebastian Giovinco who was left off Italy's team for Europa 2016.