After a fantastic away goal from Edson Buddle in Seattle, the Los Angeles Galaxy are up 1-0 over the Seattle Sounders in a two leg aggregate series. This Sunday at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy are tasked with closing out the series, with a win or a draw taking them through to the Western Conference Championship. The Sounders need to win by two goals or more to move on, a one goal Sounders victory will send the series into a 30 minute overtime, with penalty kicks at the end if necessary. Should the Galaxy emerge victorious, they will face the winner of FC Dallas - Real Salt lake at the Home Depot Center Next week. FC Dallas is up 2-1 in that series, but Real Salt Lake's goal is an away goal, so they can take the series with just one goal at Rio Tinto stadium.
All time the Galaxy are 19-2-1 at home at the Home Depot Center in MLS Cup play, outscoring opponents 55-16. The last time the Galaxy lost a home playoff game was 1998, falling to Chicago in the Western Conference Finals. Since that game the Galaxy have won 15 of 16.
Since adopting the current format, the Galaxy have reached the playoffs five times and have gone 3-1-1 in the first leg...Edson Buddle's 38' goal was his first postseason goal of his career...Donovan Ricketts made a season high eight saves en route to a clean sheet.