Major League Soccer

MLS Preview: Los Angeles Galaxy - DC United

Two teams on the rebuilding end of things look to get their season off to a good start from the City of Angels.
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009, 3 p.m. ET, The Home Depot Center, Carson, California

Mar 21, 2009 3:22:43 PM

MLS: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy (ISI)

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MLS: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy (ISI)

Teams

Old-school Animosity
The Los Angeles Galaxy and DC United are long-time rivals, having faced off in the 1996 championship in Major League Soccer's first year of existence. DC United claimed the title then, and though that was many years ago, they enter the Galaxy's home ground with no fear. DC United has always played the Galaxy very tough. Between them, however, the two clubs have racked up more trophy hardware than any other pair of MLS organizations.

That historic rivalry aside, both teams are looking to reclaim former glory. Both clubs were absent from the playoffs last season, a situation that neither team's fanbase found acceptable. The fight for redemption adds extra bite to the current clash of dynasties on Sunday.

Everything old is new again
The return of Christian Gomez could well provide DC United with the boost the club needs to improve last year's results. Gomez was shunted off to Colorado last season after a dispute with United over contract length. His style of creative, clever touches and passes never meshed well with the more direct style of the Rapids. Gomez only had occasional stretches of the form that earned him the 2006 MVP trophy. Though he played well with DC United, and arguably much better than higher-paid Marcelo Gallardo, Gomez will have to prove that his stint in Colorado was an aberation and that he has regained his magic touch with the ball. After all, Jaime Moreno isn't getting any younger and Ben Olsen seems relentlessly plagued with injury woes. However, both Moreno and more recently, Santino Quaranta have proved that United is the club for comebacks.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, have picked up anew former Galaxy players Todd Dunivant and Stefani Miglioranzi. The club has also signed up a player who was our of pro soccer last season, defender Tony Sanneh. Dunivant is still recovering from injury, but Sanneh is expected to pair in central defense with eager rookie Omar Gonzalez.

Coaching carousel
There's a bit of extra irony to the match because Bruce Arena was the first coach of DC United, establishing much of the the foundation for the early success of the team. Now in charge of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Arena is trying to juggle a team that last season had by far the worst defense in the league, while facing an international schedule that occasionally robs him of star Landon Donovan's services, and a deal with AC Milan that drops superstar David Beckham and all his attendant distractions on the squad right at the start of the playoff push. If anyone can handle the pressure-packed conditions, it's the supremely confident Arena, but it won't be easy.

DC United's current coach, Tom Soehn, got the always-double-edged vote of confidence from team owners at the end of last season. He will need to show that he has this team headed in the right direction, or the organization's patience will run thin quickly.

Players to watch

DC United - Luciano Emilio. When the Brazilian foward is smiling, all is right in DC United's world, because that means he is scoring at the clip that won him the Golden Boot in 2007. As a reward, Emilio was bumped up to a designated player salary, but he struggled with his form in 2008. He recovered to show his scoring touch was still there, but it wasn't quite enough to propell the team safely into the playoffs. With a more competitive league structure than ever, DC United can't afford for Emilio to play himself into shape. He needs to hit the ground running this season, and nothing will show more that he is truly ready than a good performance with the Galaxy.

Los Angeles Galaxy - Landon Donovan. Bundesliga hangover? Perhaps, it's worth noting that every time Donovan has returned from "failure" in Germany to MLS, he has led his team to the championship. It happened with the Earthquakes in 2001, and with the Galaxy in 2005. The newly installed captain has a lot to prove, and against United, his deft runs and darting moves past defenders could cause havoc.

Prediction

Donovan traditionally starts the season well, as fitness is a cornerstone of what he offers on the field. That could be the turning point in a hotly contested match that may well be settled by a late goal. With Arena establishing more defensive discipline in the Galaxy, Los Angeles has a better chance of withstanding the DC onslaught and the attacks led by Moreno and Emilio. LA Galaxy2-1 DC United

Andrea Canales, Goal.com

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