MLS Playoff Preview: Los Angeles Galaxy vs Houston Dynamo

Who: Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo
What: 2009 Western Conference Final
When: Friday, 11:00 pm EST
Where: Home Depot Center Stadium, Carson, CA

The Gist

The Galaxy and Dynamo have been the top two teams in the West all season and boast of records that are almost identical. Both side ended the regular season with 48 points, and both had to rely on one goal wins in the second leg of the conference semifinals to make it to this stage.

A Todd Dunivant goals was all that could separate the two sides int he regular season with the Galaxy winning 1-0 at the HDC and the two teams drawing 0-0 in Houston.

Defense has been the name of the game this year for both sides. For Houston, a team that has consistently had one of the top defensive sides in the league over the last four years, it was business as usual. Hard tackles, tight marking, and a well organized side are the trademarks of Dominic Kinnear's teams.

For Los Angeles, the added power on the defensive end complemented an already potent attacking force was enough to help head man Bruce Arena capture the MLS Coach of the Year award. With the star power already available on the attacking end, Arena put together a solid group at the back, headlined by rookie center back Omar Gonzalez, the third overall draft pick of the 2009 SuperDraft.

Yet goals win games, and neither side is devoid of attacking options.

The Galaxy, with the ever lethal combination of Landon Donovan and David Beckham, spent large portions of the season finding ways to score goals without one or the other of their two superstars. With Donovan and Beckham taking time out for National Team duty, players like Edson Buddle and Alan Gordon had to find the goals, giving Arena plenty of trust worthy options.

The Dynamo have spread the scoring out as well. Thirteen players on currently on the Dynamo roster have contributed goals this season with Brian Ching (8 goals), Stuart Holden (6), and Brad Davis(5) leading the way. The balanced attack makes the Dynamo one of the hardest teams to deal with in the league. With players like Luis Landin and Dominic Oduro ready and willing to add different elements to the match, the Dynamo can break you down slowly, or hit quickly on the break with equally lethal effeciency.

Key Players:

Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy.  How could it be anyone other than Donovan? The U.S. star is a proven big game player and has a knack for showing up big at the right time.

Brian Ching, Houston Dynamo. Like Donovan, Ching is "Mr Clutch" in Houston. In the semifinal second leg, despite not having the best match of his career, Ching ripped off the game winner. Ching has been huge for Houston in the playoffs time and again and more heroics on Saturday would not be surprising.

Prediction: Los Angeles is the home side, they get the nod. Galaxy 2-1 Houston.

Allen Ramsey, Goal.com

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