Galaxy can still come through, in a pinch
The Galaxy versus Chivas USA in a two-game playoff series for a place in Major League Soccer’s conference finals?
That idea would have been preposterous a few weeks ago, but suddenly it is possible.
Even Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop finds it difficult to believe.
“I do pinch myself sometimes -- not very hard -- to think that we have a chance and that it’s in our hands,” Yallop said Friday after training.
“This league is about the playoffs, and we all know that. Normally, in any other league, we’d be dead and buried.”
Here’s how things have to fall for an all-Los Angeles series to come about:
If Chivas USA wins one of its final two games, against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday or against the Houston Dynamo the following Saturday, it will finish first in the Western Conference and would play the fourth-place team in the West.
If the Galaxy wins its next two games -- against Toronto FC tonight and against the New York Red Bulls on Thursday night -- and then gains at least a tie in its regular-season finale against the Fire in Chicago on Oct. 21, it would be that fourth-place team.
There are still a lot of ifs, but there is a newfound self-belief among the Galaxy players and, as Yallop indicated, the team is on the rise.
“I think now we’re building some confidence,” the coach said. “Obviously, tomorrow’s game is huge for us. We need to win it.
“If we do win it and Chicago doesn’t get a good result in D.C., it’s all there for us to play for. It’s in our hands.”
The Fire, which holds the final playoff spot, plays at D.C. United and, with a win, can increase its point total to 39. The Galaxy could still reach 39 by winning all three of its remaining matches and would hold the tiebreaker edge over the Fire because it would have won the season series.
Enthusiasm has returned to the Galaxy. The injuries have mostly healed -- although David Beckham remains sidelined and will not play tonight -- and the notion of salvaging a season once written off has caught the players’ imagination.
“They can’t wait for the next match. Win or lose, they can’t wait to play. We’re not dreading the games, we’re looking forward to them,” Yallop said.
--
TONIGHT
vs. Toronto, 7:30, FSC, FSE
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- 1700, 830 (Spanish).
Records -- Galaxy 8-13-6, Toronto 6-16-6.
Record vs Toronto -- 0-0-1.
Update -- Galaxy forward Landon Donovan has a mild groin strain and midfielder Peter Vagenas has a minor calf injury, but both should be available. Toronto is missing three players who are with their national teams: Carl Robinson (Wales). Andrew Boyens (New Zealand) and Maurice Edu (U.S.).
