Major League Soccer Playoffs, Leg 2: Galaxy Look To Hold Off Sounders

Seattle Sounders (0) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (1), Home Depot Center, 9 p.m. ET, Sunday, ESPN

What we learned in Leg 1: Maybe the Galaxy won't be outrun by the Sounders? With Steve Zakuani and Sanna Nyassi on the wings, Fredy Montero up top and a couple rangey defensive midfielders, Seattle was supposed to be too fast for the lead-footed Galaxy. Los Angeles had been outrun several times this season and especially in the midfield, their lack of pace had been exposed during the regular season, but in the first leg the Galaxy shut down the Sounders' attack. Zakuani was held in check on the left all match, Nyassi had one of his worst matches ever on the right and Montero was ineffective. Los Angeles looked quicker all over the field and took away Seattle greatest asset.

What we expect to change in Leg 2: Seattle will create a few more chances for themselves than they did in the first leg. Maybe the Seattle midfield won't be able to outrun the Galaxy, but they should be able to create more of an impact and get Montero and Blaise Nkufo some chances. Deprived of service and looking lifeless in leg one, Montero and Nkufo were largely invisible, but with their season on the line and needing at least one goal, Seattle will push forward and give Montero and Nkufo chances. Whether they can create enough space in the final third to put the ball in the net is another question, but they will surely see more of the ball in Los Angeles.

You'll know Seattle is in trouble if: Neither Zakuani nor Nyassi can find some space to terrorize the LA defense with their speed. Nathan Sturgis and Osvaldo Alonso don't provide Seattle much in the way of offense from their central midfield spots so if neither Zakuani nor Nyassi is effective the midfield becomes a wasteland for the Sounders. Sean Franklin did a fantastic job defending Zakuani and later in the match Zakuani switched to the right side to get away from Franklin. On the left, Landon Donovan spent much more time than usual in his own half defending to left on Nyassi, but whatever they go up against, Seattle needs Zakuani and Nyassi or they might as well throw in the towel.

You'll know Los Angeles is in trouble if: Juninho can't impact the match in the same way he did the last match. While Juninho didn't make many spectacular plays in Seattle as he has in other matches, he was integral in the Los Angeles victory. In defense, Juninho was able to help slow down the Seattle midfield, but even though he didn't go too far forward in the match, he was also key to the Los Angeles attack. Juninho helped keep possession and knock the ball around, even if it was mainly with simple passes, but it allowed LA to create space for others to attack and with a central midfield partner of Dema Kovalenko or Chris Birchall, if Juninho can't help possession, no one will in the middle. Without an effective Juninho, LA will not be able to attack anywhere in the middle of the field.

Los Angeles needs a big game from: Edson Buddle. In the first leg, Buddle scored a wondergoal when he pirouetted and fired from long range to beat Kasey Keller with a perfect shot. The goal proved to be the winner and he'll need to find some more magic on Sunday. With Donovan defending more than usual and David Backham fighting injury, Buddle won't have a ton of help going forward and will need to be in top form to give Los Angeles some chances at goal.

Projected lineups, formation and statistics: Galaxy-Sounders Leg 2 Preview