Galaxy-Toronto FC: Leftover Items

Some notes and loose ends from the Galaxy's critical CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Toronto FC.

SCHEDULING DEBATE

The Galaxy were the only CCL entrant to play in the league's opening weekend. Seattle and Toronto FC each had the weekend off, but the Galaxy played against one of the league's best teams, hosting Real Salt Lake.

Now, let me say this real quickly - the Galaxy do not have a match the weekend of March 24-25, which would mean should the Galaxy advance to the semifinals, they will have gone from March 18 until March 28 without a game. Both Toronto and Seattle have games that weekend. Take that for what you will.

Also, the league moved RSL's league match scheduled between the first and second legs of the final, and I would absolutely fully expect that whether it's Toronto, Seattle or the Galaxy in the final.

Anyway, here's what Bruce Arena had to say on Tuesday about the scheduling portion of this whole thing.

"It is what it is. There’s nothing we can do about it. In the future, I’m going to make much more responsibility in the scheduling and we as an organization, we have a protocol in place to where we’re not going to put ourselves in this position again. That’s that. It’s over with. I accept the responsibility for the scheduling the way it is. We’re moving forward. What’s done is done. We’re going to do everything we can to get out of this leg and then get ready for Sunday. That’s what we’re dealing with now and that’s the way it is."

ATTENDANCE CAP

Another quirky thing from this game is the attendance cap of 7500. Because of some lame agreement between the club and Cal State Dominguez Hills, there is a cap in place. It's ridiculous but for now, it stands. I do hope it's abolished in the future, as soon as possible.

Anyway, the crowd then could drop about 40,000 from last week to this week. A week ago, more than 47,000 crammed into the cavernous Rogers Centre, and now there will be an intimate gathering at Home Depot Center.

The crowd had an effect on the match in Canada - at least the start of it - but that's not to say that a smaller crowd won't do the same for the Galaxy.

"They certainly started well and you can at least partially attribute that to the crowd," Landon Donovan said. "(Wednesday) night it will be loud. It won’t be the same type of environment but it will be loud. Our fans will be loud. It will be a good night, not quite the same, but we need to make sure we use that to our advantage this time."

LOOSE ENDS

Todd Dunivant on playing a massive series so early in the year: It’s different coming straight out of preseason. Edson and Robbie had their first game together last Wednesday in Champions League. They’re still getting to know each other and the team is still gelling but there’s no excuse. This is the hand we’re dealt and we’ve got to deal with it. It’s not easy but it’s what we’ve got to do to advance and we’re not going to make any excuses.

Donovan on leaving Saturday's loss behind and focusing on Toronto FC: "Bruce is very good with that. Had we won the game on Saturday it would have been the same mentality but I think everyone is chomping at the bit because we’re a little frustrated with how the game ended the other night."

Dunivant on the backline's performance (five goals allowed in two games): "We’re aware that we want to tighten it up. We had a similar issue last year, we started off kind of slow and gave up a big game against Salt Lake at their place. It’s not new to us and coming out of preseason we have been a little bit not as sharp as we need to be. Getting those zeroes was a big source of pride for us last year and we have to get that back and we know that as a backline."