Galaxy-Crew Preview
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew qualified for last year's playoffs, with the Galaxy going on to win the MLS Cup.
Nearly halfway into this season, neither club is in a particularly comfortable position in the standings.
Both teams are desperate for a result ahead of Saturday night's meeting in Columbus.
Los Angeles finished second in the Western Conference in 2014 before winning its fifth championship, while Columbus was third in the East and lost in the conference semifinals. These teams are on the fringe of the playoff picture this year, however.
The Galaxy (5-5-6) are trying to solve their road woes, having been outscored 14-6 while going 0-4-4. They haven't won in 12 matches away from home dating to September, their longest drought since going 15 straight June 29, 2008-May 23, 2009.
Los Angeles had a 23-match home unbeaten streak snapped last Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Vancouver.
"We're very due," Alan Gordon, who leads the Galaxy with four goals, told the team's official website. "We're going to give our best effort to get three points. That's what we've been doing all year."
The Galaxy will be without Robbie Keane, the league's reigning MVP who agreed to a contract extension Wednesday. He's with Ireland for its match against Scotland on Saturday.
Columbus (4-6-4) has also been struggling, allowing 15 goals during a 1-4-2 stretch. The Crew have been much better at home with a plus-seven goal differential compared to minus-eight on the road, though they lost 2-1 to visiting Montreal last Saturday. The Impact had gone 25 matches without a road victory.
"It's always a learning curve in the first half of the season," forward Kei Kamara said. "We have to take responsibility for things, like the last game at home. But now, the good thing is we're not going on the road. Our next game is at home to make corrections for the mistakes we've made last week."
Kamara leads MLS with 10 goals but has scored once in 10 matches against Los Angeles.
The Crew ended a six-match winless stretch in the series with a 4-1 home victory Aug. 16 as Ethan Finlay recorded a goal and an assist. Finlay has two goals and six assists this season.
Los Angeles may have left back Robbie Rogers available after he missed the last five matches. Rogers has been bothered by ankle and Achilles tendon ailments.