FRISCO, Texas -- One of the biggest challenges facing the Los Angeles Galaxy in Sunday's MLS Cup will be the flank play of the New England Revolution.
The Revs' five-man midfield will already pose a threat to the Galaxy but how each side's wide midfielders perform against each other could decide the match.
The Galaxy will almost certainly start Cobi Jones and Ned Grabavoy on the right and left side, respectively. The Revs are likely to start Steve Ralston and James Riley but where the duo line up is seemingly anybody's guess.
"Our midfield has to win those individual battles," Galaxy coach Steve Sampson said. "The way Stevie Ralston played last week, he's coming in with very, very good form. Whoever matches up with him, depending on what side of the field he's on, has to do a very good job."
That responsibility could fall into Grabavoy's lap. The second-year Indiana product sealed his spot in the midfield over the summer and has played well on both sides of the ball. However, Grabavoy is far less experienced (20 career starts) than Ralston (279 career starts).
Still, the prospect of Ralston bearing down on him is not overwhelming to Grabavoy.
"I don't think it really matters who's on what side," Grabavoy said. "That's something we're going to have to watch for in the game but there are a lot of other things going on too."
Ralston's play this season has merited national team call-ups -- his goal against Mexico on Sept. 3 wrapped up a World Cup berth for the U.S. -- and the commitments kept him away from the Revs for a good chunk of the season. Ralston is a tireless player who can wear down the defense with crosses from the wide side of the midfield.
Ralston could line up out left where he would line up opposite the veteran Cobi Jones or he could line up on the other flank opposite Grabavoy. Regardless, the midfield will need to withstand the blitz from the outside.
"Whoever is over there (on the right), we're going to have to deal with," Grabavoy said. "It's more of a group effort within our midfield ... We're going to have to help as a team matchup with those guys that are sitting in there deep."
Grabavoy is easily the Galaxy's best option out left. Before the season started, Guillermo Ramirez was penciled in as the starting left-sided midfielder. But midway through the season, Sampson switched to Grabavoy as Ramirez's defensive effort was not to Sampson's liking.
Neither Ramirez nor Grabavoy scored a goal in the regular season but Grabavoy had a huge goal in the Western Conference Semifinal Series. His goal midway through the second half against San Jose squashed any hopes the Earthquakes had left of mounting a comeback against the Galaxy.
Whether or not Grabavoy is up for the task of marking Ralston remains to be seen but somebody will have to contain him.
"It makes a difference where Ralston plays for sure. He's one of the better players in this league so we'll certainly keep our eyes on him," Galaxy right back Chris Albright said. "We'll be sure to stay close to him on Sunday."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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