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N.Y. continues playoff run against league-best L.A.

Oct 28, 2011 - 9:58 PM Harrison, NJ (Sports Network) - After a midweek wild card win, Red Bull New York continues its postseason run on Sunday as it begins a home-and-away series against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Even though New York narrowly squeaked into the playoffs with a win in its final regular season match, it defeated FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Wednesday to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

It came at a cost though, as Red Bulls defender Jan Gunnar Solli picked up a red card to put him out of the opening leg at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, and Dax McCarty suffered an ankle injury before being subbed off in 59th minute.

New York should be rejuvenated by the return of Luke Rodgers, who missed the wild card match with knee inflammation sustained in the regular season finale win over the Philadelphia Union. Rodgers participated in individual training on Friday, much to the pleasure of Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe.

"I must say, he looked quite good; the way he runs and the way he finished," Backe told MLSsoccer.com of the English striker. "[He] did some shooting. He looked quite okay [Friday] so, I'd be very surprised if he's not almost 100 percent fit for the Sunday game. You never know; there is some kind of pain, but it's not the worst pain."

Backe also commented on the mental state of his team ahead of the massive semifinal affair, expressing confidence in New York's ability to overcome fatigue in crucial situations.

"There is no way there will be any kind of fatigue for these players," Backe told MLSsoccer.com. "The [training] sessions have been the best two sessions so far this season. Definitely a [mental] change when we won the game against Philadelphia and went into the playoffs. I'm quite sure our players will lift their game against LA."

The Red Bulls are certainly in a rich vein of form, going 5-2-1 in their last eight games.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, has lost two of its last three regular season matches, but with a playoff berth and the MLS Supporters' Shield already secured, took the opportunity to rest several key players down the stretch.

In its regular season finale, Los Angeles did not dress David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Omar Gonzalez, and Todd Dunivant in uniform.

According to Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, the additional rest will hopefully help his players perform in what he sees as an entirely new competition to the season.

"I think what you need to do is kind of throw everything out the window and say, 'This is another competition,'" Arena told MLSsoccer.com. "This is a 10- team competition with a format. That's what this is. All this is going to prove is who is the best team in this 10-game format over the next couple games."

The reasoning makes sense, as Los Angeles has consistently been the best team all season and yet may fail to claim the league championship. The Galaxy finished the regular season with 59 points, the most in MLS.

With an extensive career in Europe, Beckham has found it difficult to adjust to the playoff system in America, especially since his team is the would-be champion anywhere else in the world.

"Anywhere else in the world we would be champions," Beckham told MLSsoccer.com. "Do I agree with [playoffs]? No, I don't agree with it.

"Obviously it should be the same everywhere else. I'd be sitting now with two league medals. But it's not the same, so you have to get yourself up again for the playoffs, and it's tough after a long season of hard games. But it is what it is."