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Toronto FC-Galaxy Preview

Sep 18, 2009 - 10:18 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Toronto FC (9-9-7) at Los Angeles (9-5-11), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Since winning the MLS Cup in 2005, the Los Angeles Galaxy haven't returned to the playoffs.

That might not change this season if their most recent effort becomes a pattern in their final five games.

Coming off one of the franchise's worst defeats, Los Angeles looks to bounce back Saturday night at The Home Depot Center against a Toronto FC club in search of its first-ever playoff berth.

With a chance Saturday to move atop the Western Conference standings, the Galaxy (9-5-11) lost 6-3 to visiting FC Dallas. It was the most goals Los Angeles has ever allowed.

"I have seen this before. This looked like the 2006-08 L.A. Galaxy," coach Bruce Arena told the Galaxy's official Web site. "We've got to make that disappear real quick. We weren't right from the start of the game."

Los Angeles had shut out three consecutive opponents and surrendered five goals in its previous 10 matches.

"The way we played we deserved to give up six (goals) and get beat like that," said goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. "Every season I think you get a bump in the road like this, and it's important we learn and learn quickly and move on."

With the top five teams in the West separated by four points, there's not much room for error for the Galaxy in the final weeks of the season.

Los Angeles, 6-0-5 against the East, will try to sweep the season series with Toronto FC after posting a 2-1 win at BMO Field on June 6.

Edson Buddle, acquired from Toronto in 2007, scored the game-winner in that contest. He had a goal Saturday in his first game for Los Angeles since suffering a hyperextended toe July 19 in a friendly versus AC Milan.

Galaxy star Landon Donovan, among the league leaders with 10 goals, will be in the lineup Saturday after missing the first meeting with Toronto while playing for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

Toronto midfielder Amado Guevara played for the Honduran side in that matchup. TFC interim coach Chris Cummins planned on keeping Guevara out of last Saturday's starting lineup against Colorado, but when Carl Robinson hurt his ankle in warmups, Guevara played the entire match and assisted on Nana Attakora's first MLS goal in a 3-2 win.

TFC (9-9-7) had been shut out in its three previous matches. Dwayne De Rosario's team-leading 10th goal in the 19th minute snapped a 313-minute scoreless stretch.

"With two more home games after this one, we knew we needed as much points (as possible) at home," Attakora said.

Toronto is 2-6-4 on road.

Midfielder Julian de Guzman is likely to make his MLS debut Saturday after signing as Toronto's first designated player last Friday.

"The positives I have seen from the game (Saturday) are certainly good to work from," de Guzman told the club's official Web site. "Making the playoffs is a big deal for the club and I feel the intensity in the changing room and the eagerness to capture this spot. We will go all out this weekend just as we did last weekend."