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Crew-Galaxy Preview

Sep 10, 2010 - 3:43 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Senior Writer

Columbus (13-5-5) at Los Angeles (13-5-5), 10:30 p.m. EDT

The Columbus Crew felt they totally controlled their previous meeting with the Los Angeles Galaxy despite losing, so they're eager to get another crack at the Western Conference co-leaders.

They may not be so thrilled to see Los Angeles at full strength.

Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle missed the late-May match at Columbus but will play Saturday night, and David Beckham could make his season debut as the host Galaxy look to snap a three-match winless streak in this potential MLS Cup preview.

Columbus and Los Angeles share 13-5-5 records, but both were unbeaten when they met May 29 at Crew Stadium.

Despite the absences of Donovan and Buddle, who were training with the U.S. national team, the Galaxy escaped with an unlikely victory. Michael Stephens and Tristan Bowen scored their first career goals as Los Angeles won 2-0 despite being outshot 21-3.

"We're disappointed because we felt we truly dominated and should have won," Crew defender Andy Iro said. "... Right now they got lucky - a little bit of poor finishing and a little bit of luck. You can only ride that for so long. Without any disrespect to them, they do defend well."

Donovan and Buddle have been back since early July, but neither has helped Los Angeles recently. Both have been held off the scoresheet for the past three games, a stretch in which the Galaxy have gone 0-2-1 after last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Chicago.

Donovan blew a chance for his first goal since Aug. 1 by failing to convert a penalty kick, but the point Los Angeles earned has the club tied with Real Salt Lake and Columbus for the league's top record with seven matches left.

Saturday's winner will have the upper hand in the battle for the Supporters' Shield, which the Crew have won the past two seasons.

"Everyone around the league will be looking to this game," Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant said. "It's the best team in the East against the best in the West. You can't ask for more than that."

Los Angeles may get an additional boost. Beckham was activated from the disabled list Thursday, leaving open the possibility he could play for the first time since tearing his left Achilles' tendon March 14 while playing on loan with AC Milan.

The injury cost him a chance to play in the World Cup, but he's hoping to help the Galaxy down the stretch. While Beckham wants to appear as a reserve Saturday, coach Bruce Arena says it's unlikely he'll play.

"I'm ready, to be honest,'" Beckham said after playing 45 minutes in a scrimmage Wednesday. "... Obviously, with not playing for six months, it has to be a careful few minutes at a time. If I can play 10, 15, 20 minutes, hopefully I can do that."

Beckham has one assist in two games against the Crew, who enter this rematch in far better form than the reigning Western Conference champions. Columbus is 2-0-1 in its past three matches after Guillermo Barros Schelotto's goal provided the difference in a 1-0 win at D.C. last Saturday.

The 2008 MLS MVP has two goals in three games after a nine-match drought.