The Los Angeles Galaxy travel to Philadelphia to take on the Philadelphia Union Thursday at PPL Park in what will be the Galaxy's final road game of the regular season. A win will mean a season sweep of MLS newcomer Philadelphia in the Galaxy's second straight game on ESPN2. Last week's SuperClassico win over Chivas USA also was given MLS Game of the Week status.
This is the Galaxy's first ever trip to PPL Park, which was built for the expansion Union. The Galaxy are 8-3-3 on the road this year for 27 points, the best road record in MLS. The Galaxy are 3-1-3 on the road this season against Eastern Conference opponents, with the lone loss to Toronto F.C.
With a win on Thursday, the Galaxy would put five points between them and Real Salt Lake, with RSL playing New York Red Bulls on Saturday. Also with a win the Galaxy would stay on pace for possibly tallying 60 points on the season, a feat only achieved three other times in MLS history, with their remaining games at home against Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. The Galaxy need to tally seven out of nine possible remaining points to achieve this feat.
Gregg Berhalter remains questionable with the mystery injury, Kovalenko and Leonardo also listed as questionable with neither of them making the 18 last match. This likely means A.J. DeLaGarza and Omar Gonzalez will be the back two again.
If Edson Buddle holds on to win the Golden Boot, he will be the third member of the Galaxy to do so, following Landon Donovan (2008) and Carlos Ruiz (2002)
David Beckham's free kick goal was the Galaxy's first direct goal off a free kick since May 3rd, 2008, when Beckham scored against Real Salt Lake.
Yohance Marshall has been called up by Trinidad & Tobago, the only Galaxy member to be called up for national team duty this weekend. The clubs US internationals have been given permission to stay with their team, and Beckham's role with the English national team is mostly supportive at this point.