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FC Dallas-Galaxy Preview

Oct 24, 2010 - 3:49 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

FC Dallas (12-3-14) at Los Angeles (17-7-5), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy still have plenty to play for entering their season finale. FC Dallas, meanwhile, is in position to help determine its playoff opponent.

The Galaxy need at least a draw to clinch their first Supporters' Shield in eight years Sunday night when they host FC Dallas, which will guarantee itself a postseason matchup with Los Angeles with a victory.

The race for the best record in MLS will go down to the final day after Real Salt Lake rallied for two goals in stoppage time Saturday for a 2-all draw with Colorado.

That result pulled RSL into a tie with Los Angeles (17-7-5) at 56 points. RSL owns the better goal differential, so the Galaxy need a point Sunday to clinch their third Supporters' Shield and first since 2002.

FC Dallas (12-3-14), meanwhile, has already clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. It will play the runner-up of the race between Los Angeles and RSL, giving Dallas a measure of control over its opponent.

Galaxy forward Edson Buddle has 17 goals, one behind San Jose's Chris Wondolowski in the race for the Golden Boot. Buddle and Landon Donovan were not with Los Angeles during its 1-0 win at Dallas on May 20 due to World Cup training camp.

"I definitely would like to get the Golden Boot but ... it's not in the bag yet," Buddle said. "It's not going to be easy this weekend to score a goal, but that's my job. Hopefully I can come through and provide for my team."

The loss to Los Angeles was the most recent for Dallas before last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at RSL. Dallas had its 19-game unbeaten run (10-0-9) snapped.

Jeff Cunningham leads Dallas with 11 goals despite the fact he's started only 12 of 26 games. Milton Rodriguez, who has five goals and was not with Dallas when these teams met in May, has started the last six games at forward.

"Against a team like LA, we might turn towards him (Cunningham) because of his pure speed and athleticism," coach Schellas Hyndman said. "We think one of the issues LA has to deal with is the speed."

The Galaxy realize they will be facing a different team this time.

"They have a number of goal scorers up top, in Rodriguez and Cunningham," coach Bruce Arena said. "They have a very good midfield with a lot of depth and a very good back line. (Goalkeeper Kevin) Hartman's had an outstanding season. They're a good team, no question about it."

Galaxy midfielders Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein will both be playing in their final regular-season game after both announced Wednesday they will retire at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old Lewis played for the United States at the World Cup in 2002 and 2006, and spent nearly nine years with four different English clubs before joining the Galaxy in August 2008.

"Eddie Lewis is arguably the finest left-sided midfielder in the history of U.S. soccer," Arena said. "We will miss having him here with us every day, and we thank him for his outstanding contributions to our organization."

Klein's 332 regular-season appearances are fifth-most in MLS history, and he played in a league-record 141 consecutive games.