Tonight the first match of the 16th MLS season kicks-off at Qwest Field. This is a battle of U.S Open Cup winners vs. last year’s western conference finalists and favourites to win this year’s MLS Cup. The Galaxy are a strong unit and have quality players, however the Sounders are no pushovers. Pablo Angel has a lot to live up to as the replacement for Edson Buddle and he will be looking to score from day one. David Beckham and Landon Donovan will still be the key players for the California side and will prove to be the difference in the set-plays. Omar Gonzales is 6.5ft and is the perfect player for Beckham to target in the box from set-plays, Gonzales scored a header in LA’s 4-0 last May. Even though the Sounders have been working hard in pre-season on defending set-plays I still think the Galaxy will get at least one goal from a set-play. The Sounders also struggled scoring set-plays last season but they have been working on their dead ball situations this winter, last Wednesday in the MLS Community Shield Seattle scored a world-class goal from a free kick from about 35 yards out; the delivery was from Freddie Montero and John Kennedy headed the ball into the back of the net.
I have spent most of this preview talking about set-plays but that is because I believe the key to winning this match will be making the most of the dead balls. David Beckham is probably the most famous footballer of all time, the reason for that is his ability. Sir Alex Ferguson once said, “His [David Beckham’s] right foot is like having all the football clubs in the world in a golf bag.” Beckham has always been good at taking free kicks, his most famous free kick is probably the one he scored against Greece for England in a World Cup qualifier, so the Sounders will have to be very careful not to concede silly free kicks. For me the only way the Sounders can get anything out of the game is if they do the opposite of Galaxy. The only way to beat LA’s defence is by playing the ball along the ground and just keep passing and moving, Dallas did this in the western conference final, and guess what, they won.
Written by Thomas Munson
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