Western Conference final preview: Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy

Technically, it could be the last home game of Landon Donovan's storied career with the Los Angeles Galaxy. But he and his teammates will do everything in their power to give the superstar forward one last crack at the MLS Cup on their home pitch, starting with the first leg of their Western Conference final versus the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.

The Galaxy have made Stubhub Center a near-impenetrable fortress this season, carrying an 18-match unbeaten streak (14-0-4) across all competitions into this match since opening the season with a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on March 8. Los Angeles avenged that loss emphatically in the conference semifinals, blasting Real 5-0 in the second leg at home Nov. 9 as Donovan had a hat trick for an MLS playoff-record fifth multigoal game.

The competition level, though, definitely gets higher with Seattle coming down the West Coast. While the Sounders did claim the Supporters' Shield, the teams each claimed four points in three head-to-head matches, and Los Angeles is 3-1-0 all-time versus Seattle in the postseason.

"I think if we play a complete 180 minutes we have a very good chance," Donovan told the Galaxy's official website. "The good thing for us is we know how we're going to play at home, and we're going to play in a way that allows us to create a lot of chances and hopefully score a lot of goals.

"... If we tie or if we lose, we know Seattle is a place we can get results and big results. Our focus is on 180 minutes."

Robbie Keane again proved a worthy running mate to Donovan with a goal and three assists versus Real. The Ireland international leads the Galaxy with 20 goals, and his 17 assists are second to Donovan's 20.

Donovan, Keane and Gyasi Zardes (18 goals) are handfuls for any opponent's defense, but coach Bruce Arena may have to tinker with his own back line. Leonardo's availability is still uncertain after he suffered a hamstring injury late in the first half of the second-leg win over Salt Lake and has only been practicing lightly.

The Sounders have three offensive threats of their own in Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Lamar Neagle, who combined for 41 goals. Seattle had a tougher road to get to the final, ousting FC Dallas on the away goals rule - they drew 1-1 at FC Dallas on Nov. 2 and then produced a clean sheet in the second leg in a scoreless draw.

Coach Sigi Schmid is counting on his defense, which has allowed one goal in the last three matches, the first a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles on Oct. 25 that secured the Supporters' Shield. Additionally, having the services of midfielder Osvaldo Alonso - who suffered a hamstring injury in the second leg versus Dallas - would go a long way in helping Seattle continue its bid for the American treble as U.S. Open Cup champions.

"I think everybody realizes how much Ozzie means to us," captain Brad Evans told Seattle's official website. "He just wants to play the game, and most importantly, wants to win. I think we all feed off that."

Though Dempsey is usually on the scoring end of goals, he realizes Seattle must play a strong defensive game to give itself a chance to reach its first MLS Cup final in the second leg Nov. 30.

"We need to try and limit the opportunities they create, in terms of trying to make it difficult for them to get good looks in front of the goal," before adding, "When we have opportunities to make things happen in the final third, be confident and brave enough to take those chances."