The Los Angeles Galaxy host Toronto FC at the Home Depot Center on March 14 in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) quarterfinal. L.A. and Toronto drew, 2-2, in the first leg of the tie in Toronto on March 7.
Galaxy manager Bruce Arena promised lineup changes after L.A. lost, 3-1, to Real Salt Lake in their MLS home opener after leading 1-0 after 71 minutes. Arena has tempered that statement about changing players since he originally said it. While it obviously looked like our side was fatigued, defender Todd Dunivant isn't going to use tired legs as an excuse for the performance. Dunivant said, "It can be a little overblown too, the fatigue factor. It was mental mistakes and maybe part of that is heavy legs, but it's kind of a fluke play on the own goal and then we let ourselves down from there. We kind of let the game slip."
I'm not sure how fresh our side will be for the match, but the players are saying the right things about being prepared. Unfortunately for L.A., Toronto has not played since the first leg on March 7. Toronto midfielder Torsten Frings provided problems for our side's defense in the first leg with his service on crosses and passes. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham was Frings' equal in that match but our side wasn't able to put enough chances in the net to get a victory.
L.A. did have enough chances to win against RSL as they did against Toronto in the first leg. However, even if our side can't convert enough shots to get a win on Wednesday, they can still advance to the semifinals in the CCL for the first time in club history with a 0-0, or 1-1 draw. The Galaxy will meet either the Seattle Sounders or Santos Laguna should they advance.
I'd love to see the Galaxy get their first win of 2012 but it is nice to know that they don't need a victory to advance in a competition they would love to win. I think a 2-1 L.A. result is a good possibility.
More from Patrick Johnston:
Galaxy to Have Lineup Changes Vs. Toronto FC
Edson Buddle scores, but Galaxy fall, 3-1, to Real Salt Lake in home opener
Galaxy win EA Sports FIFA 12 MLS season simulation, Robbie Keane wins Golden Boot
Source:
Luis Bueno, "Tired legs not an excuse for LA ahead of TFC clash", LAGalaxy.com
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