Union 0 - 1 Galaxy
Final
  for this game

Union to face stiff test at L.A.

Apr 1, 2011 - 6:53 PM Carson, CA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Union are 2-0-0 to start the 2011 Major League Soccer season, good enough for tops in the Eastern Conference table in the early going.

But when the second-year MLS club travels to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, the competition should be much stronger than the previous two weeks, when the Union topped a weaker-than-usual Houston Dynamo team and the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC by identical 1-0 scores.

"This is a very difficult game for us," Union coach Peter Nowak told mlssoccer.com. "It's good to see where we are at this point."

The Union should also be facing a Galaxy squad aiming to get over an embarrassing 4-1 loss to real Salt Lake last week.

"I expect a very tough game, especially the way the game unfolded vs. Salt Lake," Union midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi told the league's website. "They have been together for a long time. All the way from the last guy on the roster to the coaching staff, they're very proud. I think they're looking to make amends."

The Galaxy (1-1-1) aren't taking Philadelphia for granted, knowing that it is a different team than a year ago.

"If the same team shows up this Saturday that showed up last Saturday, we aren't going to win the game," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told Philly.com. "That's a very good Philadelphia team."

Los Angeles looks at the improved Union as a challenge, which should help its preparation this week.

"This week is as much fun as I've had in a while," Arena said. "We are coming off a loss, so I look at the next game as a greater challenge."

The Galaxy will welcome back their best player in Landon Donovan, who didn't play last weekend because of international duty. But defender Gregg Berhalter and forward Adam Cristman will be out, while top goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is questionable, and defender Omar Gonzalez is probable, all with injuries.

The Union are relatively healthy, with midfielder Justin Mapp listed as questionable, and defenders Carlos Valdes and Danny Califf expected to play with knocks.






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