Can Seattle and LA Recover from their Failure in CCL This Weekend?
Fans of the Seattle Sounders cheer (Flickr Commons)
Major League Soccer was dealt another blow in the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League this week as both the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy crashed out in the semifinal stage.
With no MLS teams left on the continental stage, the entire nation shifts its focus back to the domestic stage.
The Sounders and Galaxy are in two different places at the moment with one team mired in a record slump while the other has succeeded without its two big name superstars.
Sigi Schmid’s Seattle team are in the middle of the worst start in franchise history and they get a chance to right the ship in front of their home fans at Century Link Field on Saturday against fellow struggling club New England.
New England’s start to the season has been the worst in the Eastern Conference as the Revolution only have four points in four games.
Compare that to the poor start of the Sounders and the Revs look like a world-class side at the moment.
The Sounders have managed to record just one point in four games this season and they are already 12 points behind Western Conference leaders FC Dallas.
The only positive result for Schmid and company came on March 16 during Rivalry Week against the hated Portland Timbers in a 1-1 draw.
With the struggling Revolution coming across country to the Pacific Northwest, the Sounders have to pounce on the opportunity that is in front of them.
Seattle are a much better squad than their results show at the moment and they have a perfect recipe to bust a slump in front of them this weekend.
As for the Galaxy, the heartbreak of a loss to Monterrey on Wednesday can be erased with a road victory over FC Dallas.
However, FC Dallas just so happens to be the leaders of the West this season and a challenge awaits Bruce Arena’s team at FC Dallas Stadium on Saturday night in front of a national audience.
With Landon Donovan finally back in to the fold, the Galaxy have yet another play maker that can be easily inserted into their lineup. Also back in the LA lineup is Robbie Keane, who played a full 90 minutes on Wednesday in his return from injury.
Donovan and Keane add extra weapons to the already stacked Galaxy arsenal that includes Omar Gonzalez, Jose Villarreal, Jack McBean and the league leader in scoring, Mike Magee.
The Galaxy will be forced into playing their best 11 just three days after their trip to the south of the border and their midweek game against Monterrey could effect their fitness in Frisco on Saturday night.
While the Sounders have a much better chance of winning this weekend after CCL disappointment, do not count out the Galaxy as they look to get back on track in a crucial early-season matchup.
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