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Galaxy-FC Dallas Preview

May 19, 2010 - 8:15 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (7-0-2) at FC Dallas (2-1-5), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy are off to their best start in a decade, but things will likely get much tougher with their top two players turning their attention to the World Cup.

Taking the field for the first time without playmakers Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan, the MLS-leading Galaxy hope their veterans can step up when they visit FC Dallas on Thursday night.

Powered by Buddle's MLS-best nine goals and Donovan's league-leading nine assists, Los Angeles (7-0-2) has quickly separated itself from the rest of the Western Conference. The Galaxy, off to their best start since going 6-0-5 in 2000, have 23 points - 10 more than the four teams tied for second place.

Extending that unbeaten start likely won't be easy, though.

Buddle and Donovan are training with the United States team in Princeton, N.J., and would likely miss four MLS games if named to the squad. U.S. coach Bob Bradley hopes to trim his roster to the 23-player limit by next Wednesday with the World Cup set to begin in South Africa on June 12.

Without the services of Buddle and Donovan, who have 10 of the team's 15 goals, the Galaxy hope Alan Gordon, Mike Magee and Clint Mathis can carry the team.

Those three players have 27 years of MLS experience and combined for seven goals and 16 assists last season.

"We're going to have to dig a little bit deeper," defender Gregg Berhalter told the Galaxy's official website. "We've been doing it all year. Guys have been injured, in and out. We're used to that, we've been doing that so we're just going to have to continue."

Los Angeles managed to overcome an injury to starting goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in a 0-0 tie with Toronto FC on Saturday.

Ricketts leads MLS with six shutouts and started the Galaxy's first eight games before hyperextending his right elbow in practice last week. Backup Josh Saunders stepped in and stopped one shot to preserve the team's seventh shutout.

"Donovan's been great for us all year but Josh is a starting goalkeeper in this league and to have him come in and back up Donovan is no change whatsoever," defender Todd Dunivant said.

It is uncertain who will start in goal for the Galaxy on Wednesday.

FC Dallas (2-1-5) is also receiving solid goaltending from four-time All-Star Kevin Hartman.

After recording back-to-back shutouts, Hartman stopped six shots in a 1-all tie at Philadelphia on Saturday. Dallas appeared on its way to a third straight 1-0 victory when Brek Shea scored his first career goal in the 13th minute, but Danny Mwanga recorded an unassisted goal just as stoppage time was about to expire in the 94th.

While the goalies for the Galaxy and Dallas are playing well, the 'keepers struggled in the teams' last meeting.

Jeff Cunningham, Dallas' leader with four goals, scored twice in a 6-3 win at Pizza Hut Park on Sept. 12.