Five Things presented by Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center: Sporting KC opens two-match road trip at LA Galaxy | Sept. 3, 2022

Campaign coming to a close

That defeat to Sporting put a damper on the Galaxy’s playoff hopes but they have responded ferociously, picking up four straight results. They washed the Whitecaps 5-2, snuck a draw against Seattle, ran past the Revolution and tied Toronto on Wednesday night. With eight points in four matches, the Galaxy are in the midst of a playoff battle, one point back of the Portland Timbers but with two games in hand. With eight matches left for LA they cannot afford to leave any points on the table.

Sporting has six matches left and is nine points out of the playoffs. Their recent form of inspired soccer has lifted them out of the basement of the West, overtaking San Jose last week. With six matches left and nine points to gain Sporting needs as many points as possible entering the final stretch of the 2022 season.

The Galaxy are championed by former Mexican International star Chicharito who paces the club with 12 goals this season. Not too far off him is forward Dejan Joveljic and his 10 goals. They have been assisted mainly by Julian Araujo and Raheem Edwards who have seven and six assists respectively. Their squad has been bolstered by the arrival of Riqui Puig after he spent four years with Barcelona in La Liga. Puig picked up his first MLS goal on Wednesday night against Toronto, the leveler in the match.

As a club, the Galaxy have had two fatal flaws this season. They are 7-0-2 when leading at half and 10-1-3 when scoring the first goal. However, their totals drop to 0-10-1 and 1-10-1 when trailing at halftime or conceding the first goal. They had the lead Wednesday at Toronto, went down and clawed out a point on the road. They tend to hang around matches as well, scoring 17 goals after the 75th minute, an MLS high. It is always an exciting matchup when Sporting and LA meet and the 68th MLS rendition is set for Sunday at 7 p.m. CT.