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Galaxy-Sounders Preview

May 7, 2010 - 8:21 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (6-0-1) at Seattle (2-2-3), 4:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC were two of the favorites to compete for Western Conference supremacy entering 2010.

Only the league-best Galaxy are living up to the billing so far, but an offensive-minded lineup change has the Sounders gaining confidence.

Hosting the stingiest defense in MLS on Saturday should provide a major test for Seattle.

The Galaxy (6-0-1) lead the league with 19 points after falling to Salt Lake on penalties in the MLS Cup final last year. Superb play on both ends of the field are big reasons Los Angeles is atop the West again.

The team leads MLS in goals scored (11) and conceded (two).

The Sounders (2-2-3) are having a tough time building on their 2009 success. They finished third in the conference as an expansion team last year, one point behind the Galaxy, who edged Houston on a tiebreaker.

Seattle is now tied with San Jose for fifth.

Coach Sigi Schmid is trying to spur the Sounders offensively by changing the formation to a 4-3-3.

The move paid off early last Saturday, as Steve Zakuani scored in the fourth minute, but Seattle gave up a second-half goal to settle for a 1-all tie with Columbus.

Schmid, though, was encouraged by the Sounders' 16-7 shots advantage.

"I thought the 4-3-3 suited us well. I thought we created a number of chances," Schmid told the team's official website. "We created and if we continue to play along that vein, I think luck will return to us."

Freddie Ljungberg has seen his role change in the new formation, moving to a deeper role behind the forwards.

"I'm extremely happy. That's where I want to play," said Ljungberg, who set up Zakuani's team-leading third goal last week. "I don't need to be with my back to their goal now, I can go at them ... We're playing amazing football and you can see the fans really enjoyed it. If we can keep on playing like this, we're going to get a lot of points."

Seattle is in for a tough test against the Galaxy, who are on their longest unbeaten streak since a 10-game run from April 11-June 6 of last year. That stretch included a 1-all draw at Seattle on May 10.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts leads the league with a 0.29 goals-against average and five shutouts. He got another clean sheet Wednesday, making six saves while Alan Gordon scored in a 1-0 win at Colorado. The victory came four days after Los Angeles beat Philadelphia 3-1.

"It speaks to our professionalism," defender Todd Dunivant told the league's official website. "That's kind of what these games are all about. We had a short turnaround and playing on the road, and it comes down to your mentality and whether the guys are ready."

Landon Donovan leads MLS with six assists, matching his total from last season. The midfielder-forward has one in each of the last two games.

Edson Buddle also has been key for the Galaxy, though the league leader with nine goals came up empty on six shots against the Rapids. The forward also is one yellow card away from a one-game suspension.