As Sporting KC welcomes the LA Galaxy to Sporting Park on Saturday, I caught up with Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano to preview the match. The match will kick off at 5 p.m. CT with live coverage available on ESPN2, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340 AM.
JF: What's the Galaxy's form heading into Saturday’s match?
AS: The team is starting to click finally. The Galaxy has an eight game winning streak, but the issue with them is their form has been up and down for them. They haven’t had a complete performance to show you that the team is going to compete for MLS Cup. Their performance against New England was really telling. They needed a game where they can just let their hair down are really beat a team. Now they’re headed to a game against Kansas City, the reigning MLS Champions, and they are feeling up to the challenge. They know this could be a big turning point, especially coming into Kansas City and winning on the road would be key to them.
JF: Homegrown forward Gyasi Zardes has scored five goals in his last five matches. How has his partnership up top with Robbie Keane developed this season?
AS: Gyasi Zardes has been a big player they have had so many expectations for, he has so much potential when you look at his physical attributes and his ability to score goals. I think you can see a more confidence Zardes, someone who knows that he has to do the little things as opposed to only using his speed to find space and to get behind defenses. Sometimes last season he was a little frantic when he got the ball and was really wasteful with his chances. But now you’re starting to see him working together with well together with Robbie Keane. There has been a lot of talk about whether or not they should go back to the Landon Donavan/Robbie Keane strike force. But I believe Zardes should stay at top because he has a lot of what Landon Donovan doesn’t have right now which is that speed, and that explosive ability. When you put those two together, Keane is kind of that creative force and Zardes is that physical player who plays further up the field which has caused a lot of problems and will be one of the downsides going against Kansas City.
JF: What are your thoughts Saturday's match?
A: This is a marquee match-up of all marquee match-ups. I think without a doubt that people will be going into the match thinking this could possibly be a preview of the MLS Cup final. When you look at the forms these two teams have and look at where their talent is at, that statement isn’t that much of a stretch. But if you look at those games specifically, both teams have had a really congested schedule over the last few weeks, so I don’t know if we will see an open, free flowing game. It might be more of a gritty showing because both teams might be looking to rotate a little bit. The Galaxy has a game against Manchester United next weekend, then they go to Seattle which is big. So I expect this one to be a little more physical game than the open, free-flowing game. But both these two teams like to play and don’t really like to step back and wait. They are teams that like to attack, so I am expecting a pretty exciting game.
JF: Most people are familiar with Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, and Omar Gonzalez but what are some other players that have been key for tha Galaxy this season?
AS: Juninho is a key player because of his ability to control the midfield and control the middle of the park on those counter attacks. I think he is going to be really pivotal. Tommy Meyer at center back who has really come on over the last few weeks and made that starting position his own while Omar Gonzalez is away. I think he is going to be key for the Galaxy going into the game against Kansas City because I expect Dom Dwyer to keep a lot of pressure on him and see how he deals with that. It’s going to be what decides the game or whether or not the Galaxy can keep the Englishman off the court.
JF: What are some of the key match-ups for Saturday?
AS: I think it is going to depend on the rotation but I think Tommy Meyer verses Dom Dwyer is the biggest match of the game because Dwyer has such great form right now. He has the tendency to exploit even the craftiest defenders. Meyer’s is going to have to deal with that type of pressure and I think that game is going to turn on that. Robbie Keane and Collin, I think Keane has the ability to open up Collin and lure him back creating spaces and letting players like Gyasi Zardes who can get in behind their defense. I think these two teams will be a very good match and will be an exciting game for sure.
