Major League Soccer Playoffs, Leg 2, Preview, Picks: Galaxy Will Play It Conservatively

So really, above all, we learned that Colorado are probably just better than Columbus on raw talent.

If you’re wondering, he doesn’t come into the picture at any point during this attack. That giant hole in the midfield remains until Schelotto gives the ball away because he has absolutely no one to give the ball to. This is not the only move in this game that Moffat essentially killed by himself. So, would you rather have Ekpo in that space but never winning a ball from Mastroeni and Larentowicz, or Moffat winning balls and then doing next to nothing with them? Tough call.

Seattle needs a big game from: Fredy Montero. The Colombian striker who went on a tear midseason is the most dangerous player in the Seattle attack, but he’s fallen off in the last month. Montero couldn’t find space to attack the Galaxy defense and whether it’s knocking goals in or setting up his teammates, Montero is often at the heart of the Seattle attack. He’ll need to shake off a bad run of form and get the Sounders going on Sunday to give his team a chance.

Our prediction: Los Angeles gets the opening goal and despite an equalizer and late pressure, Seattle can’t get the second goal they need to force extra time. A 1-1 draw in the match is good for a 2-1 aggregate win for LA.

You’ll know FC Dallas is in trouble if: RSL doesn’t necessarily need to score an early goal, but they are able to force the Hoops into playing an uptempo game, that plays right into their strength. One of the primary reasons Rio Tinto has become such a fortress is because Kreis has turned RSL into one of the fittest teams in MLS. If the Dallas players are sucking wind early on, that is not a good sign.

FC Dallas needs a big game from: Ferreira might be the league’s MVP and it’s games like this where MVPs are expected to make their marks. The Colombian doesn’t need to score and doesn’t even need to be involved in the scoring, but he does need to make sure this game is played on the Hoops’ terms. That means retaining possession and not giving away easy turnovers.

What we learned in Leg 1: In a match-up of orthodox 4-4-2s, neither of these sides can control the midfield. The match at Buck Shaw Stadium was a messy and jumbled contest severely lacking in quality. There were chances at both ends, but neither side played with a coherent plan or dominated the game. Unfortunately for football connoiseurs, it looks like both Hans Backe and Frank Yallop will stick with relatively similar systems in the second leg.

You’ll know New York is in trouble if: San Jose can dictate the pace of the game in midfield. New York is a slow team, and we’ve seen throughout the year what happens when opponents stretch the Red Bulls with pace. The ‘Quakes came close to doing that on a number of occasions in the first leg, and the Red Bulls can be a bit tentative on their home turf, so seizing the initiative will be key.