Galaxy Puts Streak on Line Against Newcomers

The Galaxy, on a four-game winning streak, tonight plays an expansion team that might be starting a rookie goalkeeper in his Major League Soccer debut.

That doesn’t necessarily mean, though, that the Galaxy is in for an easy time.

Real Salt Lake plays at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus, a stadium with synthetic turf. That might pose problems for a team accustomed to grass, although the Galaxy has trained on the Home Depot Center’s synthetic practice field.

Overcoming the rookie goalkeeper is another matter.

Starter D.J. Countess separated his left shoulder during a 1-0 loss to Chivas USA last weekend and, with backup Noah Palmer also sidelined because of a shoulder injury, Real Salt Lake Coach John Ellinger might put Jay Nolly between the posts.

Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Nolly helped Indiana win NCAA titles the last two years.

Countess, a former UCLA goalkeeper, insisted earlier in the week that he would play, however.

Stopping Landon Donovan and the rest of the Galaxy offense concerns Ellinger more than his goalkeeping woes.

“Last time we played them, we gave [Donovan] a little too much respect,” he told the Deseret Morning News on Friday. “So we’re going to have to close the door a bit. Get a little tighter. Nudge him here and there a little bit to throw him off his game.”

TONIGHT

at Real Salt Lake, 6:30 PDT

FSN West 2

Site -- Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City.

Radio -- 830, 1540.

Records -- Galaxy 4-1, Real Salt Lake 1-3-2.

Record vs. Real -- 1-0.

Update -- The Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake, 3-1, on April 9 in Carson. Donovan, who scored twice in that match, is tied with New England’s Clint Dempsey for the league scoring lead with five goals. Real Salt Lake’s Jason Kreis, who has three goals this season, needs three to become the first 100-goal scorer in MLS.