Sounders-Galaxy Preview
It has all come down to a home-and-home set between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders to decide the Supporters' Shield.
These playoff-bound Western Conference rivals are tied for the MLS lead with 60 points heading into Sunday's heavyweight showdown at StubHub Center, where fans are being encouraged to arrive early for a pregame ceremony to honor Landon Donovan in his final regular-season home appearance.
"I think with this being his last game, and then you've got the Supporters' Shield on top of that, it's only going to add to it," Sounders defender Chad Marshall told the club's official website. "Both teams are going to come out with high intensity, wanting to win."
Next Saturday's matchup in Seattle would be rendered virtually meaningless if the Sounders (19-10-3) win this game. They would clinch the tiebreaker - more victories - and claim the Supporters' Shield for the first time in franchise history.
The Galaxy (17-6-9), though, are 9-3-3 in this series since 2010 and easily won this year's only meeting - 3-0 on July 28 thanks to a goal and two assists from Donovan.
That's one of only five times all season Seattle was shut out. The Sounders' 61 goals are second in the league to Los Angeles' 67.
"We know they're going to look different than they did that day in Seattle," Donovan told the Galaxy's official website. "For whatever reason they were not at their best and we did very well. We expect they will be at their best (Sunday)."
"It's just going to be a great series. There's not many people who would doubt these are the best two teams in the league. We've both proven it over the year."
Since winning 2-0 in their first visit to Los Angeles in 2009, the Sounders have gone 0-5-2 there while being outscored 14-3.
"It's an exciting game when they come here and vice versa when we go there," said Donovan, the league leader with 19 assists. "We do well under the spotlight. These are games that we cherish and I expect Sunday to be the same and I expect next Saturday and if we face them in the playoffs, it'll be the same.
"We always think that playing here that we're going to win and that's the attitude that we're going to have."
The Galaxy have proven unbeatable at home since a season-opening 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, going 12-0-3. They have won six in a row on their own field by a 21-2 margin.
Los Angeles is surely looking forward to getting back home following last Sunday's 2-1 loss at FC Dallas. Stefan Ishizaki opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, but Jaime Penedo allowed the tiebreaking goal with two minutes left in regulation.
"We always knew it was going to come down to these last two games, so that's the way it goes," Donovan said afterward. "It's better to have a little bit of a wakeup call now than to lose in the playoffs. We'll learn from it."
The Sounders are also looking to regroup following last Friday's 1-0 loss to Vancouver. Seattle had scored four goals in each of its previous two matches, winning both.
"We have a lot to play for. Our goal of Supporters' Shield hasn't changed and our goal of MLS Cup hasn't changed," coach Sigi Schmid said. "We need to take care of business in the last two games."