Galaxy-D.C. United Preview

The Los Angeles Galaxy haven't lost to D.C. United in nearly seven years, and they'll need to overcome two key absences to make it eight.

One of them is reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane.

With Keane and Gyasi Zardes on international duty, the Galaxy could turn to a pair of journeymen at forward in an effort to hand United their first home loss in nine months Saturday night.

Los Angeles (1-0-2) is unbeaten in 10 straight games - including five wins - against D.C. (1-1-0) since losing at RFK Stadium on June 29, 2008. This is the clubs' only scheduled meeting this year.

The Galaxy had little trouble taking the only matchup last season, scoring three goals in the first half in a 4-1 home win Aug. 27.

Alan Gordon opened the scoring that night starting in place of Keane, who was rested, and may do so again Saturday since Keane is with the Ireland national team. Zardes, meanwhile, will be with the United States.

Gordon has appeared in all three games this season as a substitute, scoring his only goal in stoppage time to help Los Angeles escape Portland with a 2-all tie March 15.

The 6-foot-3 target forward may be partnered with 6-foot-1 Edson Buddle, giving the Galaxy a much different look compared to the mobility of Keane and Zardes. Buddle has 114 MLS goals but has played only four minutes this year after a quad injury in the preseason.

"There should be a lot of crosses into the box if we're in together," Gordon told the team's official website. "Big forwards have to get service and if we get that then we should be able to score some goals."

Jose Villarreal is likely to be important to that service. The midfielder has one goal and two assists in three games, setting up Keane's tally in last Saturday's 1-all tie against Houston.

"We'll be ready for what comes," Villarreal said. "We're missing those players, but we have guys that can step up."

United coach Ben Olsen certainly doesn't mind facing the Galaxy without Keane and Zardes, the team's top goal scorers last season who have accounted for three of Los Angeles' five goals this year.

"It's a good time to play them. I'm not going to lie about that," Olsen told the team's official website.

Olsen is looking for his team to respond with a more aggressive game after falling 2-0 at New York on Sunday.

"We were just passive. It wasn't necessarily that the effort wasn't there - I just thought our mentality was passive," Olsen said. "That can't be. We'll fix that. That won't be an issue going forward."

A return home could help United bounce back. They're 8-0-1 in MLS play in the nation's capital since June 28, their longest unbeaten stretch there since a franchise-record 19-game run March 30, 2012-March 9, 2013.

Jairo Arrieta has the only D.C. goal this season, scoring in a 1-0 home win over Montreal on March 7. The forward tallied for Columbus in his only career meeting with Los Angeles on Aug. 15, 2012.

Arrieta is expected to start at forward alongside Chris Pontius, who has failed to score on six shots - one on goal. He had one goal in eight games last year before undergoing season-ending hamstring surgery.