CARSON, Calif. - Heading into Sunday's first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series against the San Jose Earthquakes, there were major questions facing the Los Angeles Galaxy. The first was how to get the midfield more involved. Maybe more importantly, the second was how to get Landon Donovan more involved in the attack.
Both questions were answered emphatically Sunday, as Donovan was moved out of midfield and back into the front line. He put his own stamp on the game, scoring a pair of goals as he once again showed his scintillating playoff form to pace the Galaxy to a 3-1 win.
The Galaxy came out intent to go forward from the opening whistle. Keeping with the adage that a good offense is the best defense, the Galaxy pressed for goals all game long. It helped because the Galaxy's back four was shorthanded with Tyrone Marshall serving a suspension after he was sent off in the regular season finale.
"Even with Tyrone, our best defense is our attack," said Galaxy head coach Steve Sampson after the game.
Last weekend, the Galaxy came out very flat, letting San Jose take the game to them in what ended a 3-1 Earthquakes victory in the last regular season match. The playoff game was a stark contrast to that, and in Sampson's eyes, the difference was the performance of his senior players.
"I thought the impetus was the veterans, especially the ones with the most experience. Players like Landon Donovan, Pete Vagenas, Cobi Jones, Kevin Hartman and Chris Albright," said Sampson. "When those guys want to play and want to raise their level, they can be as good as anyone in this league or better."
Albright expanded upon his coach's thoughts.
"When it gets to this time of the year, it's up to the veterans to help set the tone in practice, and help set the tone in the game," said Albright. "Especially us being a young team, and having some foreigners, and guys who haven't played in playoff games, it was their first go-round. They look towards us to see what kind of attitude to take on. We just try to be positive and get everybody ready."
The veteran players made all the difference. Hartman made five saves, including a fantastic one in the first half on a header by Brian Mullan. Donovan netted an all-important insurance goal late in the second half for his second. Jones and Albright were credited with assists on Donovan's second goal.
The final strike was vintage Donovan, as he outran Danny Califf to a long ball played to him by Jones. With his first touch he flicked the ball over Pat Onstad as he came storming out of the area, then ran onto the ball and headed it home with his second touch.
"In the first half Eddie (Robinson) and Danny (Califf) backed off quite a bit, and I had a lot of time to turn and run at them," said Donovan. "I'm sure that Dominic (Kinnear) said something to them at halftime, because it was just killing them to let me turn on them and run. And eventually I knew that if Cobi had some time to serve the ball he would give me a chance. It worked out nicely."
Aside from goals, the final box score was full of yellow cards. As always, the rivalry between Los Angeles and San Jose was heated, and seven yellows were handed out during the match. A second-half shoving match broke out, and in all 39 fouls were committed.
"Galaxy-Earthquakes is the best rivalry in the league. It was proven again tonight. The atmosphere and the electricity on the field and in the crowd is always there in either building," said fullback Todd Dunivant, who has worn both uniforms in the rivalry.
"It's something that both teams thrive off of. It's a different game when these two teams play. For whatever reason there's a little something extra in everyone's step, and you saw it again tonight."
While the Galaxy enjoy a two-goal lead on aggregate after the first leg, they know all too well that a two-goal lead is anything but safe. Two years ago, the Galaxy took a two-goal lead into San Jose, eventually falling 5-4 on aggregate in what was one of the most exciting games in MLS history.
On Saturday at Spartan Stadium, the next question will be if the Galaxy can prevent history from repeating itself.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
