Galaxy Weekly Lookahead

The Los Angeles Galaxy may have the week off, but with three teams training the blue and gold with a game in hand, it's still a critical week. With eleven weeks left in the great MLS race, the Galaxy are sitting pretty with a six point lead over Dallas in the West and Supporter's Shield race. Every team his a different number of games left, with Real Salt Lake having thirteen, and the Galaxy on the other extreme with only nine games left.

Don't forget, the Galaxy were supposed to have a game this weekend in Kansas City, but that was bumped back. Compared to their contemporaries, the Galaxy have been burning through the schedule from the get go, playing two games in week one. And of course, under the new rules, 10 MLS teams will qualify for the post season.

The Galaxy are on pace for one of the automatic berths. Should they take the Supporter's Shield again, they'd face the lowest ranked Wild Card team.  The Wild card teams are subjected to a play in round, to reduce the number to two. 

***

Did you know there hasn't been a 0-0 draw in MLS since July 17th. According to the Elias Sports Bureau hat goal draught that the Galaxy were certainly a part of has been almost flipped, with teams averaging 3.02 goals per game since that date. The Galaxy saw Portland score three on Wednesday, then went and did the same thing to FC Dallas on Saturday. Here's Bruce Arena on David Beckham contributing to all three goals: 

"He's made quite a reputation for himself over the years on set pieces. He continues to serve the ball into dangerous spots. Teams that can score goals off of set pieces win a lot of games and he's obviously an important part of our attacking schemes."

Also worth noting, from the bureau, is that goals from outside the eighteen yard line have doubles in the last week or so. The Juninho special is becoming more common, with FC Dallas scoring the opening goal against the Galaxy with a goal of the week nominee. Juninho of course answered back with the winning goal, another Juninho special.