PHILADELPHIA – The LA Galaxy will seek to extend their unbeaten run to eight games on Wednesday when they take on the Philadelphia Union.
Fresh off their 4-2 win over the New England Revolution last Sunday, the Galaxy piled into a flight for a cross-country trek to face the Union.
Given the short turnaround and the trip to Philadelphia, Bruce Arena will likely shuffle his squad around, but Galaxy captain Robbie Keane doesn’t anticipate any letdown.
“We have to prepare ourselves for the next four days to make sure that all the lads are ready and prepared right,” Robbie Keane told reporters last week. “It’s also the good thing about having a squad because other players could come in and maybe freshen up the team up.
“We’ll be fine. When you win games, it gives everyone confidence, and I don’t think that there are many teams that want to play the Galaxy whether it’s home or away.”
Philadelphia are in the midst of their best start since the 2011 campaign with a 4-3-1 record which places them third in a competitive Eastern Conference. Led by dynamic winger Chris Pontius (four goals and one assist), striker C.J. Sapong (four goals), and Swiss playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta (one goal and two assists), the Union have surprised many with their quick start.
The Union may be on a high at the moment, but the Galaxy have had their number since the club’s inception in 2010. Los Angeles holds a 6-1-1 mark against Philadelphia, which includes a 2-0-1 record at Talon Energy Stadium.
“They’ve had a good start to their season, and they’ve played well at home,” Arena told LAGalaxy.com after the team’s training session on Tuesday at Talen Energy Stadium. “ They’ve gotten a lot of good play at out of Pontius, Sapong, Barnetta and Sebastian [Le Toux] who are dangerous attacking players and they’ve got a goalkeeper [Andre] Blake, who is one of the best young goalkeepers in the league. They have a good solid team.
“It’s a very difficult challenge getting our team ready to play tomorrow, but we’ll see. We’ll make some changes and see if that’s enough to bring some energy on the field.”
Regardless of who takes the field on Wednesday, the Galaxy anticipate a battle in Philly.
“There're no easy games in this league, and it’s certainly never easy playing in Philly,” midfielder Mike Magee said. “It’s always tough when you play here.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. LA GALAXY
TALEN ENERGY STADIUM, Chester, Pennsylvania
MAY 11, 2016 (WEEK 11, MLS GAME #97)
4 pm PT (Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Time Warner Cable Deportes)
- Union return to action after a weekend off, after they conceded a late equalizer for a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at Talen Energy Stadium last time out, remaining undefeated at home this season though seeing their three-game winning run in Chester put to an end.
- The Galaxy hit for multiple goals for a fourth time in five home games this season, rolling to a 4-2 win against the New England Revolution on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. The Galaxy have scored 17 of their 22 goals this season at home, with two four-goal games and one five-goal game (and, also hit for four goals in a win at the Houston Dynamo).
- Robbie Keane returned to action for the first time since March 19, scoring a pair of goals in the win vs. New England. Keane has four goals in four league games played this season.
- The Galaxy have won the last three meetings between the teams, outscoring Union 13-3 over that time. The Galaxy won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 5-1 win June 20 at StubHub Center; that victory followed wins by a 4-1 scoreline in each of the two previous seasons.
- The Galaxy have won six of the eight meetings all-time between the teams, with one draw. Union have never defeated the Galaxy at home, losing twice with a draw in three all-time meetings in Chester. The Galaxy have won four of the five meetings all-time in Carson, including the last two.
