The last time Toronto FC faced the LA Galaxy in Toronto many things were different: the match was played in front of over 40,000 spectators at the Rogers Centre, it was a first leg knockout match in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, and both teams could field a full trio of (and were in many ways defined by) Designated Players. When the teams meet on Saturday in regular MLS league play it’s entirely possible that neither side will have a single DP in their game day line-up.
The LA Galaxy won two straight MLS championships with the creative axis of David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane at the heart of their attack. Only Beckham is no longer on their roster but Donovan has only recently returned from a self-imposed sabbatical and Keane picked up an injury while away with the Republic of Ireland’s national team that should see him miss the match.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Fortunately for the Galaxy the base of their team, its stellar defense, has remained stable and, with the addition of former Chelsea regular Carlo Cudicini in goal, probably improved. Omar Gonzalez is returning from a standout performance at the heart of the American international side that took only its second ever point away from Mexico in Estadio Azteca in FIFA World Cup qualifying Tuesday night and should be joined by his regular companions A.J. DeLaGarza, Sean Franklin, and former TFCer Todd Dunivant.
Brazilian midfielder Juninho has been picking up most of Beckham’s creative duties in the middle of the park while another Brazilian, Marcelo Sarvas, does more of the harrying work of energetically closing down opponents. The Galaxy benefit from the pairing's familiarity with each other: Sarvas was a regular starter during Beckham’s injury absences in 2012 and many observers suggested that LA actually played better, more consistent, football with the two Brazilians in the engine room of the team.
Even in offense, where the absence of Keane and Donovan should be most felt, the Galaxy solve their problems through continuity and evolution rather than wholesale rebuilding. Most immediately, Mike Magee has continued his breakout performances from the 2012 MLS Cup playoff run that culminated in another championship by already scoring four league goals in just three games in 2013.
The real excitement though for Galaxy fans has been the emergence of young homegrown player Jose Villarreal into a legitimate MLS starter. Villarreal announced himself to the rest of MLS with a beautiful curling strike in Vancouver last summer and has since gone on to star for the U.S. U-20 World Cup side during their successful qualifying campaign.
More importantly to the Galaxy, it was his goal that secured their advancement to the semi-finals of the 2012-13 CCL over Herediano of Costa Rica. On that goal Villarreal had the confidence to look off the call for the ball on the break from the more senior Keane, take on two defenders, and make space for himself at the top of the box to perfectly find the side net with a left footed shot.
Another young striker that TFC-centric supporters may not be familiar with but Galaxy supporters are high on is Jack McBean. McBean signed for the Galaxy at the tender age of 16 and has been steadily progressing towards the first team ever since. Still only 18 McBean was mostly confined to Champions League matches in 2012 but made important contributions there. Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena successfully used the full depth of his squad to secure a place in the knockout rounds without taxing his first team regulars.
LA’s continued participation in the CCL may provide some additional hope for TFC faithful. The Galaxy face the first leg of their glamour tie against reigning champions Monterrey of Mexico back in Los Angeles on Wednesday night and it’s possible that both Arena and the team could be looking past Toronto to that game.
Certainly, if the Galaxy are serious about pursuing MLS’s first continental championship in the modern era of the tournament a single league game, away from home, in the opening month of the season should be considered less than vital and thoughts of squad rotation and protecting some players must be on Arena’s mind. That said, the Galaxy are an experienced and professional group who managed two competitions well in the second half of 2012 and will most likely know how to game plan for Toronto even with the Monterrey game lingering.
The high pressing and workmanlike side that TFC is shaping up as under Ryan Nelsen will likely have a hard time getting the Galaxy to come out of their shell. Arena has a justly earned reputation for not expecting his teams to entertain on the road and home fans, excited for the first game at BMO Field of 2013 with the first signs of spring emerging, should not be disappointed if the game fails to ignite.
TFC have been harder to beat than expected in 2013 and another competitive performance, even if it ends as a low-scoring draw, would be another significant step in the right direction for a club still firmly in rebuild mode.