The LA Galaxy need Sebastian Lletget to rediscover his form from earlier in the season to have a chance against Seattle.
By Ivan Yeo
If there was ever a time for the Los Angeles Galaxy to reassert themselves, quite simply; this is it.
Months of up-and-down play, high-profile signings and roster and lineup changes will all come down to one game on Wednesday night. A one-game playoff against their bitter rivals for the right to advance in the Western Conference playoffs. That is the scenario that awaits the Los Angeles Galaxy as they prepare to face the Seattle Sounders at Centurylink Field in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs on Wednesday night.
Since a 5-1 win against New York City FC back on August 23, the Galaxy have surprisingly found success elusive. In the last two months of the season, the Galaxy have won just once in its last nine games, a span in which they went 1-4-2 and as a result, went from leading the Western Conference to dropping all the way to fifth, setting up Wednesday’s win-or-go-home match against the Sounders.
LA’s recent slide can be traced many ways, but one glaring weakness has stood out, and it has been a surprising one. The Galaxy backline, usually a staple of past dominance, have been subpar, as they have given up 14 goals in those last nine games, including five against Portland two weeks ago. LA knows they can’t afford any slip-ups against Seattle’s potent striker tandem of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins.
LA also needs a strong performance from its midfield. Sebastian Lletget has struggled as of late, failing to tally a goal since August 23rd, after starting the season on a tear. It is also vital that Steven Gerrard rediscovers his form. LA’s high profile signing in the offseason started out well, but has seen his form dip in LA’s last few matches. If LA can get those two rolling again, they will have an excellent chance of making another playoff run.
While LA will have a hard task of trying to knockout a Seattle team surely motivated to dish out some payback for last year’s loss in the Western Conference Finals, on the road no less, they can take solace in the fact that they have had success against Seattle this season. The Galaxy won both games at home and came close to sweeping the series at Seattle back on October 4, as they held a 1-0 lead deep into stoppage time, but a Chad Barrett strike at the death kept LA from getting the full three points.
