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Dynamo-Galaxy Preview

Jun 4, 2010 - 7:43 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Houston (5-6-1) at Los Angeles (9-0-2), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Everything has been going the Los Angeles Galaxy's way, even though the club is without its two best players.

The Galaxy look to run their unbeaten streak to 12, which would match their MLS record to open a season, when they host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.

Los Angeles (9-0-2) defeated Eastern Conference-leading Columbus 2-0 last Saturday in a matchup of unbeaten teams. The Galaxy, who lead the West by 10 points, won their first 12 matches in their inaugural year of 1996 - still the longest unbeaten streak to start a season in league history.

The Galaxy, 11-0-3 since losing to the Crew on Sept. 26, are also one game shy of matching the franchise's longest unbeaten streak. That was set from Sept. 7, 1997-May 17, 1998, when the club won 15 consecutive games.

"It's about getting the job done, and we've been getting the job done so far," goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts told the Galaxy's official website. "We take each game one step at a time. Maybe (opponents) think they're the better team, but at the end of the day three points is the most important thing."

Ricketts made four saves last Saturday to extend the club's shutout streak to 456 minutes. Los Angeles hasn't allowed a goal since the 84th minute of a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on May 1.

The Galaxy have won their last two matches without Edson Buddle, the league leader with nine goals, and Landon Donovan, who tops MLS with nine assists. Both players were named to the U.S. World Cup team last week.

Without Buddle and Donovan, Los Angeles has seen others step up to help extend the unbeaten run.

Michael Stephens and Tristan Bowen scored their first MLS goals against Columbus, while Mike Magee recorded his first goal of the year in a 1-0 win over FC Dallas on May 20.

The Galaxy have had 10 players score, with Buddle the only one with more than one goal.

Buddle had both scores for the Galaxy in a 2-0 win at Houston on April 10. Ricketts, who leads the league with eight shutouts and a 0.20 goals-against average, didn't have to make a save.

The Dynamo (5-6-1) arrive in Los Angeles hoping to bounce back from a second straight heartbreaking defeat.

After allowing a goal in stoppage time in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday, Houston yielded a goal with seconds remaining in stoppage time in a 2-1 defeat to New York on Wednesday.

"Just a lack of concentration. We took our foot off the gas and were unsure," said captain Brian Ching, who scored in each loss. "If we go into (the Galaxy game) the same way, we're in for a rude awakening. So it's our job to step up and be men and start taking accountability for our actions."