BY ADAM SERRANO
The Los Angeles Galaxy are just one win away.
A victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday and the Galaxy will clinch the Supporters Shield and the top spot in the MLS playoffs. The Galaxy have won the Shield twice in its history, but not since 2002, a year that also saw the Galaxy win MLS Cup. Los Angeles will look to welcome back Gregg Berhalter who practiced with the first team on Thursday.
"It’s very difficult to do, and if we do it with a big cushion that would say a lot about what we’ve done this year," said Landon Donovan. " I know there’s been some bumpy patches but I know we’ve been the best team this year."
In addition, to the Galaxy needing a victory to clinch the Shield, the Rapids will have a great deal to play for as the Kansas City Wizards sit hot on their tail in the race for the final playoff berth. A loss against Los Angeles and the Rapids would need a point against their arch nemesis Real Salt Lake at home to clinch a playoff berth. With both clubs needing victories expect a wide open affair at the Home Depot Center.
CONVEY SHINES UNDER THE RADAR FOR QUAKES
Chris Wondolowski, Geovanni and Jon Busch may have gotten all the accolades for the San Jose Earthquakes, but one player has continued to fly under the radar. Midfielder Bobby Convey. Playing in his first full season for MLS, the versatile player has notched a team high 11 assists -- including five game-winning assists, an MLS high-- and has been integral in the Earthquakes first ever playoff qualification.
"I had a great off season and I've played a lot of minutes this year, I've been a team player as much as I can and spurred the team on and we have a great team where everyone works for one another," said Convey. "I was happy to be rewarded for being an all-star and now lets see what comes on the end of the season."
Convey has been vital delivering balls into the Quakes attack that is spearheaded by Wondolowski and looks to be candidate for Comeback player of the year. While Wondolowski is a dark horse candidate for MVP of the year, following the Earthquakes victory over D.C. United, Wondolowski stated that he believes that his teammate is the one who is the most important to the success of San Jose.
"Convey has been team MVP this year," said Wondolowski. "He does so much stuff that doesn't get in the stat book like the way that he tracks back on defense and all of his assists. He'd get my vote for league and team MVP if I could vote for him."
The Earthquakes face off against their former incarnation, the Houston Dynamo on Saturday with an eye to advance their playoff standing.
RSL PREPARE TO BATTLE WITH FC DALLAS IN POTENTIAL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
The Galaxy may clinch the Supporters Shield with a victory, but Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas are going to be eager to keep pace should the Galaxy slip against Colorado. Dallas bring their streak of 19 matches unbeaten to Rio Tinto where Real Salt Lake is unbeaten in 24 games. In a recent interview with a local radio station, RSL owner Dave Checketts stated that their match up with Dallas may be the biggest regular season match that his club has ever been a part of.
With the Galaxy pulling away, the two look set to play again in the first round of the playoffs with RSL currently ranked second in the Western Conference and FC Dallas in third. Salt Lake's lead is only two points and an FC Dallas victory at Rio Tinto would put Dallas a point ahead of the defending champions and allow them to host the second and final leg of the first round playoff fixture.
CURRENT WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF MATCH UPS
Due to the dominance of the Western Conference this year, both playoff brackets will have a Western flavor to them. Here is how the playoffs would look if the season ended today.
(W1) Los Angeles Galaxy vs. (W4) Seattle Sounders
(W2) Real Salt Lake vs. (W3) FC Dallas
In the Eastern Bracket, two west teams would face off against two from the east.
(E1) New York Red Bulls vs. (E4) Colorado Rapids
(E2) Columbus Crew vs. (E3) San Jose Earthquakes.
The Kansas City Wizards remain in the playoff chase and if they win out and Colorado loses their final two matches, they would enter the playoffs as the third seed in the East. The Earthquakes being the only team to switch conferences would immediately be dropped to the bottom of the Eastern bracket and face off against the Red Bulls.
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Will LA clinch the Shield this weekend? Should Convey be Comeback Player of the year? Is FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake, the match of the season? Will the Rapids earn the final playoff spot?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
