MLS Cup at a Glance
Who: Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes.
Where: Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio.
When: 9:30 a.m. PDT.
TV: Channel 7.
Playoff history: The Galaxy is 16-10-3 all-time in the playoffs and reached the championship games in 1996 and 1999. It defeated New York/New Jersey and Chicago, each in three games, to reach the final. The Earthquakes are 5-3-0 all-time, losing two of three first-round playoff games to the Galaxy in 1996 in their only previous playoff appearance. They gained the final by defeating Columbus in two games and Miami in three.
Defense: The Galaxy back line gave up 1.38 goals a game, fourth-best in MLS in the regular season, and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman had a 1.25 average. The Earthquakes are anchored by Jeff Agoos, the league’s defender of the year. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon yielded only 1.09 goals per game.
Offense: The Galaxy scoring punch comes from Sasha Victorine (10 goals), Luis Hernandez (nine), and Cobi Jones and Greg Vanney (six apiece)). The Earthquakes counterpunch with Ronald Cerritos (12 goals), and Landon Donovan and Manny Lagos (11 apiece).
Injuries: Galaxy defender Ezra Hendrickson and forward Hernandez each are nursing hip injuries and neither is likely to play the full 90 minutes. Forward Victorine has a bruised knee and is listed as doubtful. Earthquake midfielder Lagos (strained right hamstring) is listed as questionable.
