SEATTLE— There was one message from the LA Galaxy locker room after their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field: it’s time to move on to a bigger prize.
LA needed a full three points on Saturday afternoon to win a fifth Supporters’ Shield, but two late goals by Guatemalan winger Marco Pappa were enough to give Seattle their first regular season title. Hours later, the Galaxy learned that they’ll open up the MLS Cup Playoffs against Real Salt Lake, who knocked LA out of the playoffs a year earlier.
While the Galaxy certainly felt the sting of letting the shield slip through their fingers with a disappointing 0-2-1 record in their final three matches, during the postgame the Galaxy had already shifted focus to their most coveted prize—winning a fifth MLS Cup.
“Listen the standings don’t lie and they have been the better team over the course of the year and we give them credit,” said Galaxy striker Landon Donovan. “That could have been ours but I think we gave up too many points earlier in the year and it came back to hurt us now. Everything is wiped clean and it’s a clean slate and whoever's the best team after five games is going to be holding the trophy at the end of the postseason.”
The Galaxy may have given up a pair of goals to Seattle late, but throughout the contest, it was the visitors who were the aggressors racking up 13 shots to a paltry four from the Sounders. LA’s frequent ability to test Seattle’s defense was even more impressive considering the fact that the club was without forward and talisman Robbie Keane who was held out with a nagging minor injury.
Although the Galaxy’s recent results haven’t been ideal, defender Robbie Rogers admitted that the team’s recent performances gave his side comfort heading into the playoffs.
“We’re confident,” said Rogers. “It’s good to get two difficult games like this because I think sometimes when you cruise into the playoffs it can be a bit of a shock. I think that this is a great way to prepare for it.
“We’re so ready for it and excited for it. We’ve come so far and it’s all leading up to this moment to get ready for the postseason.”
Added Gyasi Zardes, “We’re ready for the playoffs. We gave our all [against Seattle] if you watch the first 85 minutes of the game, you can see how we ran that field.”
While Keane’s absence was certainly felt, the Galaxy expect the Irishman back – as well as the suspended Omar Gonzalez – back in the lineup when they take on RSL in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal next Saturday.
And with their three Designated Players back in the squad, the Galaxy are confident that they’ll be lifting the MLS Cup in early December.
“When we have him in there he provides that so we’re confident that having him in there, having Omar [Gonzalez] back next week that we will look a little bit different,” said Donovan. “But that being said we played very well [on Saturday] and if we play like that in the playoffs there’s a good chance were going be holding a trophy by the end.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com .
