(Sports Network) - Two of Major League Soccer's top teams, the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy, square off in a key Western Conference tilt on Sunday afternoon at Robertson Stadium.

Both teams are gunning for the conference crown, and both are tied at the top, along with Chivas USA, which has a game in hand. The winner on Sunday will still have a shot at the top seed out of the Western bracket.

Los Angeles (11-6-11) is coming into the game after beating Chicago 1-0 a week ago to clinch its first playoff spot in three seasons.

"I said that when I first came back that this team has players that are not afraid to pass the ball and to make plays on their own, and maybe we haven't had that over the last couple of years," Galaxy forward David Beckham said. "And we've got strength in depth as well with the players that we've got coming in. We've got a stronger squad of players more than anything. Of course, having [coach] Bruce [Arena] know the league and know the players and know the way he wants us to play, it's working out well so far."

Now the Galaxy will be aiming to end the regular season on a winning note in their final two fixtures.

"We sure as heck want to win the games that we have remaining," Arena said. "But at the end of the day it seems like everyone is going to be playing each other anyway. The biggest factor is certainly whoever makes it to their conference final, then they'll have home-field advantage. I'm sure not looking that far ahead."

Houston (12-8-8) is coming off a 1-1 draw vs. Kansas City, and will be gunning to get back on track over its final two games as well.

"Glad we won and got some guys some minutes like Eddie [Robinson], Ryan [Cochrane], Luis [Landin], and Cam [Weaver] and that was the plan obviously," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "... Job number one is to win, and we accomplished that."

Houston will be without forward Cam Weaver because of suspension, while defender Richard Mulrooney and midfielder Corey Ashe are out with injuries. Defender Danny Cruz is probable with an injury of his own.

The Galaxy will be without defender Julian Valentin and forward Alecko Eskandarian, while midfielders Dema Kovalenko and Stefani Miglioranzi are questionable.



Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend