CARSON, Calif. – StubHub Center has not been a happy hunting ground for Seattle Sounders FC and on Sunday evening (5:30 p.m., ESPN2), the Galaxy will look to add to Seattle’s misery in Carson.
Since Seattle entered MLS in 2009, LA has amassed a 5-1-2 record at StubHub Center against the Sounders in both MLS regular season and postseason competition.
The last Sounders victory came in their first trip to Carson on Aug. 15, 2009 when David Beckham picked up an early red card and the Galaxy fell 2-0 in Seattle’s inaugural season. After that defeat to Seattle, the Galaxy have outscored the Sounders by an impressive 14 goals to three in seven games at StubHub Center.
“We get up for this game,” said Landon Donovan, who has notched two goals and six assists in regular season play against the Sounders. “It’s an exciting game when they come here and vice versa when we go there. 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 [at CenturyLink Field] and if we face them in the playoffs, it’ll be the same.”
In 2014, the Sounders have enjoyed their finest season in their six-year history in MLS as they’ve amassed the most wins in the league while remaining on top of the Supporters’ Shield standings for 24 of the last 25 weeks of the season.
But despite boasting an impressive offense that include the attacking tandem of Obafemi Martins (17 goals and 10 assists) and Clint Dempsey (14 goals and nine assists), the Galaxy are confident that they can exploit several weaknesses in the Sounders armor—especially after the way LA manhandled Seattle 3-0 back in July.
“Historically, [Seattle] has been hot and cold [throughout the season]. They’ve gone through long stretches where they don’t lose and then stretches where they don’t play very well,” Donovan said. “Generally at the end of the season, [head coach Sigi Schmid] has them going the right way and they’ll be organized and prepared.
“But we certainly feel that after the last game that we could exploit some weaknesses. We have a good understanding of their team and we’ll make sure to make that known again,” he added. “[The win in July] gives us confidence, but we know that they’re going to look different than they did that day.
“We expect that they’ll be at their best this weekend and we know that when we play at their best, it’ll take our best effort to beat them. [Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid] will have reminded them about the result earlier in the year and we’ll have to be ready for a challenge if we’re going to win.”
While Donovan placed plenty of stock in the Galaxy’s success against the Sounders, head coach Bruce Arena was quick to dampen expectations.
“Let’s hope this [run] continues,” Arena said glibly after Wednesday’s training. “But it’s immaterial to this game.”
Although the numbers back up the assertion that the Galaxy hold the edge over Seattle, will that translate into an advantage for the Galaxy when the whistle blows on Sunday?
“Well, we always feel like we have an advantage over teams,” Donovan added. “We always think that playing here that we’re going to win and that’s the attitude that we’re going to have.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
