Galaxy Opens Playoffs on the Road Thursday

Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy announced Friday that its Western Conference semifinal playoff series would begin Thursday on the road against either the San Jose Clash or Kansas City Wiz.

The second match of the best-of-three series will be held Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl. A third match, if necessary, would be played Oct. 1 or 2, said Danny Villanueva, the team’s president and general manager.

The Galaxy (18-13) clinched the Western Conference’s regular-season title with a 2-1 victory over the Burn at Dallas on Thursday night. The team closes the regular season against Dallas at the Rose Bowl on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Leading scorer Eduardo Hurtado will not play in the finale because he received his fifth yellow card of the season in Thursday’s victory.

Hurtado was cited for delay of game in the final minute. Under league rules, he must sit out the team’s next match.

Ante Razov or Jose Vasquez will replace Hurtado in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, Coach Lothar Osiander said.

Midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos is listed as doubtful because of a thigh injury suffered Thursday night. Guillermo Jara would replace him.