With just five games left in the USL regular season, Sounders FC 2 is just shy of being able to clinch a postseason spot in its inaugural season. With seven points needed from its final few matches, Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson’s side travels to face LA Galaxy II on Sunday, in search of a big road win that would put his club in front of the tightly-contested Western Conference.
It was a close affair in the previous meeting between the sides, with S2 getting a 1-0 victory at home via Aaron Kovar’s first and only goal of the season for the Rave Green. S2’s defense held the Galaxy to just two shots on goal, which goalkeeper Troy Perkins was able to save easily.
LA Galaxy II has scored 35 times this season while conceding the fewest goals in the Western Conference with 26. The two clubs sit tied in second place in the table, just one point behind leader Oklahoma City Energy FC.
“They are a tough team to play,” said Hendrickson. “It was a very physical match when they visited us last, but we just need to remember to play our game and go in there to get a result during this road stretch.”
S2 has struggled to pick up points on the road thus far in 2015 with its only road victories coming against Timbers 2, both 2-0 shutouts at Merlo Field. LA has the second-fewest points at home of any team currently in playoff position with a 5-4-3 record (18 points). The club is 2-3-0 in its last five, winning its most recent match in Austin by a score of 3-2.
Hendrickson has opted for a combination of Oalex Anderson, Sam Garza, Pablo Rossi and Vic Mansaray as a rotating front two in the last eight matches since Andy Craven was signed to the First Team. Rossi hasn’t found the net since S2’s 4-0 win over Arizona United SC on July 12 as Anderson has moved into more of a central forward role using both speed and creativity to account for three goals in between National Team stints.
Kickoff for Sunday’s match is set for 3:00 p.m. PT from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and will be live-streamed on SoundersFC.com.
