As bad as Sunday’s performance was for the Galaxy, they still maintained their slim advantage in the playoff race in the Western Conference.
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In an odd occurrence, only two Western Conference teams (Seattle Sounders and St. Louis CITY SC) recorded wins Sunday. The Galaxy were on the wrong end of a 6-2 shellacking by St. Louis.
The losses around conference, however, left the Galaxy (9-11-9, 36 points) in ninth place, the final spot for the playoff play-in game, one point behind Colorado and three ahead of the 10th-place Portland Timbers (9-13-6, 33 points), who are Wednesday’s opponent.
However, none of it will matter if the Galaxy have the same effort as they did Sunday.
“I think we have a lot of players with a lot of experience in this team,” Galaxy forward João Klauss said after Sunday’s defeat. “This game is already behind us, we can’t change what happened today. It’s a very important week for us. We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves, we have to take responsibility and accountability for what happened … and then we move forward.
“Wednesday, we have a very important game at home in front of our fans and we have to get the three points, and then Saturday again.”
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After Wednesday, the Galaxy will host San Diego FC, currently 12th in the conference. The opportunity to separate themselves from the pack trying to chase down a playoff berth still exists for coach Greg Vanney and the Galaxy.
“I feel like (this game) lights a fire under some people and under the group … There was certainly anger and disappointment, but I also felt a recognition that there’s a big week still ahead of us,” Vanney said. “Those games are going to be at home and they are what our focus is on. I feel like there will be a good bounceback. It’s important that everybody bounces back, but in general I think the group is going to be resilient and excited to be back at home in front of the crowd and recognizes that we actually didn’t really lose any ground tonight in the grand scheme of things because of other results.”
As important as these next two games are, a draw Wednesday would keep the Galaxy in ninth place, holding off the charging herd as the five teams in 10th to 14th place are separated by just three points.
“We have to be ready and have to be with the right mentality,” Klauss said. “Our heads have to be in the right place. We have to forget this game (on Sunday). I know it’s difficult, but it’s in the past. Wednesday, we have to be ready. We have to give our 100 percent every single day. That’s the only way for us to make it.”
Ventura County FC hosts playoff game in Carson
Friday, Ventura County FC will open the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs with a quarterfinal meeting against Minnesota United FC 2. The game will be played at 7 p.m. in the main stadium at Dignity Health Sports Park. Admission to the game is free.
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PORTLAND TIMBERS FC (9-13-6, 33 points) at GALAXY (9-11-9, 36 points)
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park
How to watch: Apple TV