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Galaxy-Rapids Preview

May 5, 2010 - 2:40 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (5-0-1) at Colorado (3-2-1), 9:30 p.m. EDT

Edson Buddle's scoring surge could earn him a trip to South Africa. A two-game jaunt with the MLS-leading Los Angeles Galaxy is the more immediate concern.

Buddle looks to help the Galaxy extend their unbeaten streak to seven games Wednesday night when they visit the Colorado Rapids.

Los Angeles (5-0-1) leads MLS in points with 16, while Buddle is the league's top scorer with nine goals in six games after netting five in 19 contests last year. The forward's scoring burst - more than all but two other teams in MLS - could earn him a call-up to the United States national team for next month's World Cup in South Africa.

He's appeared once for the U.S. in 2003, under current Galaxy coach Bruce Arena.

"Who would expect anyone to have nine goals in six games?" Arena said. "We know he's a very capable player who can certainly score goals. Our team has been playing well in putting Edson in position to score goals but his finishing has been outstanding."

Buddle dominated offensively Saturday, scoring two goals and setting up another by A.J. DeLaGarza to power a 3-1 win over Philadelphia. It was Buddle's fourth two-goal performance in five contests, and earned him league player of the week honors for a second time.

"His confidence is high. Balls seem to find him in the right spots and then when they are finding him, he's doing the right thing with it," said midfielder-forward Landon Donovan, whose five assists have all come on goals by Buddle. "When those three things are combined, you're going to be scoring a lot of goals."

The Galaxy, last year's MLS Cup finalists, are playing two road games in four days against Western Conference foes. After facing Colorado (3-2-1), they'll visit Seattle on Saturday.

"The point is that we do have two tough games on the road," Arena said. "After the Colorado game, we'll deal with Seattle. It's not going to be easy. We know that. We've prepared ourselves for this. We'll see how the team prepares for this challenge."

Los Angeles finished 0-1-1 against the Rapids last year, as Donovan scored with eight minutes to play to secure a 1-all tie at Colorado on April 25.

The Galaxy are 0-3-1 while getting outscored 9-1 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, and the Rapids are unbeaten in seven games there since a 1-0 loss to Columbus on Aug. 1.

A return home could be just what Colorado needs to rebound from Saturday's 1-0 loss at San Jose, as it outshot the Earthquakes 12-8.

Conor Casey, who could be in contention with Buddle for a spot on the U.S. World Cup team, hasn't scored in two games after netting two goals in a 3-1 win over Toronto on April 18. The forward has come up empty on nine shots - two on goal - during his drought.

Casey, who has scored all of his team-leading three goals at home, had a hat trick against the Galaxy in a 3-2 win April 4, 2009.