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Wizards-Galaxy Preview

Aug 27, 2010 - 5:39 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Kansas City (6-9-5) at Los Angeles (13-4-4), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Playing seven of their last nine regular-season games at The Home Depot Center should greatly improve the Los Angeles Galaxy's chances at a third Supporters' Shield.

Rebounding from a second defeat in three games is the Galaxy's immediate concern when they face the visiting Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night.

Los Angeles (13-4-4), a finalist in last year's MLS Cup, is atop the league by three points over Eastern Conference-leading Columbus with nine games remaining, including a visit from the Crew on Sept. 11.

That potential MLS Cup preview is one of seven games left at The Home Depot Center for the Galaxy, including a match as the visitor against Chivas USA on Oct. 3.

Los Angeles is 6-1-2 at home, but lost their most recent match there 3-2 to Chicago on Aug. 1.

"Time is now for us to start establishing The Home Depot Center as a place where no team wants to come and play," midfielder Chris Klein told the team's official website. "Where we are right now, one of our clear goals is to win the Supporters' Shield."

The Galaxy have cooled of late, going 3-4-2 after starting the season with a 12-game unbeaten streak. Their recent stumbles continued last Saturday when they gave up a goal in the fourth minute of a 1-0 loss at San Jose.

Los Angeles is 0-4-1 when giving up the first goal.

"We've just got to tighten up the screws, I guess," said forward Edson Buddle, the league leader with 13 goals. "We have some time to get things right before the playoffs."

The Galaxy appear to be in good position to begin re-establishing their home success, with a visit from the Wizards (6-9-5), who are 1-6-2 on the road and five points out of playoff position.

Kansas City, however, is trying to carry some momentum from last Saturday's 4-1 home win over New England. Forward Birahim Diop scored twice and added an assist in his first start of the year.

Diop, who has appeared in six games for the Wizards, is trying to revive a fading career that started in his native Senegal before joining New York in 2001 under then-coach Octavio Zambrano, now an assistant with Kansas City.

Diop had no goals in four games for the then-MetroStars before Zambrano signed him when he was coach of Moldova's CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol in 2006. Injuries appeared to be putting an end to Diop's career two years later, but Zambrano convinced Wizards coach Peter Vermes to sign him in March.

"You have to really believe in someone to make it happen," Zambrano told the team's official website. "I know for him it's the world because I know he still has at least another four years."

Kansas City and Los Angeles played to a scoreless tie on April 24. They tied 1-all in the most recent matchup at The Home Depot Center on May 30, 2009.