Real Salt Lake hosts the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. MT in a battle of two teams fighting for top spots in the Western Conference playoff chase.
Here’s a look at three things to know about the opposition in a crucial midweek match.
MLS Frontrunners
In the early days of Major League Soccer, few could contend with the championship pedigree of D.C. United. Winners of MLS Cup in three of the league’s first four seasons, D.C. was a dominant force in the league. Since then, though, the balance of power has shifted west and the LA Galaxy has been the standard-bearers. There have been down moments, but they have been few and far between as the Galaxy was the first club to win MLS Cup five times when Landon Donovan hoisted the trophy in his final match in the league in 2014. The Galaxy also has four Supporters’ Shields and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups to its credit, making it the most decorated club in MLS.
Stars in the Galaxy
LA has always had its share of marketable stars with the club and this year is no different. From Cobi Jones to David Beckham and many points in between, LA has brought out spectacles on many levels. The current squad is a great example. In addition to top international stars Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard, LA’s roster includes the likes of Gyasi Zardes, Ashley Cole and Jelle Van Damme, all stars in their own rights. While many of those players won’t be available to Head Coach Bruce Arena – himself a top figure in the U.S. coaching world – there is always plenty of talent in waiting with the Galaxy.
The 200 Club
On Saturday against the Columbus Crew, Arena became just the second coach in MLS history to record 200 victories, joining Sigi Schmid in the elite echelon of coaches with incredible prolonged success. Arena won championships on both coasts, winning two MLS Cup titles with D.C. United and three with the LA Galaxy, and has been instrumental in elevating the Galaxy to new heights in the last eight years.
