SoccerGalaxy, Bulls charging towards Toronto

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Edson Buddle insists he meant it. He would, wouldn't he? It doesn't matter a jot whether he did or didn't. What does matter is Los Angeles have done the hard part as a result of Buddle's speculative/intentional long-range winner in Seattle. 

The Galaxy's march to a second successive MLS Cup appearance is well underway. The job is only a third done, but with home advantage to come in the decider, I expect the Sounders to be silenced once and for all. 

The opening salvos of the 2010 playoffs decided nothing of course. Road wins for Los Angeles and New York certainly put them in the box seat for their respective home legs, but none of the weekend winners have more than a one-goal margin to build on.  

Bruce Arena's team is clearly a force to be reckoned with. They clinched the Supporter's Shield with a record number of regular season wins (18) and points (59) since MLS adopted a 30-game schedule in 2007. 

The Galaxy have owned Seattle in 2010. In May they thumped the Sounders 4-0 at Qwest Field and two months later celebrated the return from South Africa of Landon Donovan and Buddle with a 3-1 victory on home soil. 

LA must be favourites from here on in, but don't write off Seattle. Not just yet. They certainly possess flair when they're in the mood and veteran coach Sigi Schmid has been this way before. An early goal for the visitors would change the whole complexion of the tie.

The return of David Beckham has certainly added to the Galaxy's array of weaponry but they are not invincible at home. Seattle won there last year while Chicago, Kansas City, New York and Colorado have all followed suit since August. 

Buddle's goal will allow LA to control the game at their pace. The longer it goes without a goal, the more chances Seattle will be forced to take. Inevitably gaps will begin to appear and the Galaxy's quality strike force will be ready to cash in.

Defending champs without Morales for decider 

If Real Salt Lake is going to successfully defend the MLS Cup, they're going to do it the hard way. That won't concern Jason Kreis or his players. Only 12 months ago they crept into the post-season and then held their nerve in a penalty shootout. 

RSL have built on their 2009 breakthrough. They are a well-organized outfit and have become extremely hard to beat this season. They lost just one game in 25 after a shaky start to the campaign and have also made progress in the CONCACAF Champions League. 

It seems only one team has their number. FC Dallas were the only club to interrupt their unbeaten streak in the regular season and then came from behind to beat them in the first leg of the playoffs. The Hoops have the slender advantage and a psychological edge ahead of the decider. 

Eric Avila's late winner in Frisco will have been a tough pill to swallow for RSL, who must also make do without the influential Javier Morales. He and FC Dallas's Atiba Harris will be mere spectators following their red card indiscretions. The absence of Morales could be a critical blow. 

It looks like there will be at least one Eastern team in the Eastern Conference Final. New York's rapid transformation from also-rans to Cup contenders is almost complete. Hans Backe is surely a shoe-in for Coach of the Year as a result. 

Even without Thierry Henry the Red Bulls were too good for San Jose. While scoring a vital goal at one end, they also managed to keep Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski at bay. They'll need to shackle him again in the return to finish off the 'Quakes. 

Brazilian playmaker Geovanni can also hurt New York. His private battle with Rafa Marquez could be pivotal to the outcome but Backe's Bulls have become a dominant team in their new stadium. They've lost there only once there since May so a San Jose victory would be a major upset. 

What about the Crew?

Red Bull Arena may well be hosting the Eastern Final - but which team will occupy the visitor's dressing room? Columbus Crew have more recent playoff experience than the Colorado Rapids but the Crew's end of year decline has spilled over into the post-season. 

The Crew managed only one win in their final seven regular season games - and that was against MLS newcomers Philadelphia. Days later, though, Columbus were on the receiving end again - struggling to contain the Rapids' dynamic duo of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. 

With home advantage to come, Crew coach Robert Warzycha needs one final big effort from his battle weary troops. Argentine veteran Guillermo Barros Schelotto can win games by himself but he needs quality support from the likes of Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven and Steven Lenhart. 

Colorado will take heart from history. Despite a lowly playoff seeding, New York in 2008 and Real Salt Lake, a year later, have shown what is possible in the post-season.

The Rapids are 90 minutes away from continuing the recent underdog tradition.

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