Galaxy hope to set tone in midfield

LA planning to keep strong RSL midfield from dictating pace

By Jeff Carlisle / MLSnet.com Staff

Dema Kovalenko's grit backs up David Beckham's precision in LA's midfield. (J. Miranda/Getty)

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SEATTLE -- One school of soccer thought contends that games are won and lost in the midfield. Another insists that the respective penalty areas are where the key battles will be fought. Of course, there is truth in both theories, but take one look at Sunday's MLS Cup Final between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, and it's likely that the center of the park is where the match will be decided.

RSL's midfield quartet of Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Andy Williams and Will Johnson is a unit chock-full of skill and versatility. Morales and Williams are usually relied upon to handle most of the offensive duties, but Beckerman and Johnson are just as capable of doing damage in the attacking third, as witnessed by Beckerman's deft pass that set up Morales' equalizer in the second leg of their conference semifinal series against Columbus.

It's also a group that is committed to defense. Even Williams, long thought to be a player who shirked his defensive responsibilities, has shown an increased ethic to win the ball back once it's been lost. And while Beckerman is tasked with setting the physical tone in midfield, RSL head coach Jason Kreis insists that Johnson's contribution is just as important.

"Johnson is the glue that holds our midfield together," said Kreis. "We've got Beckerman who is fantastic, and we've got the Morales's, the Williams's and the Clint Mathis's of the world that are very, very gifted in the attacking third of the field. But it's Will Johnson that goes box to box, that does all the dirty work on both sides of the ball and just never quits for us."

The tight diamond formation Real employ makes them especially adept at keeping the ball, which can wear down opponents. It was this ability to maintain possession that allowed RSL to dictate the tempo in the Eastern Conference Championship against Chicago.

"When they get the ball and get moving and they're active and they have good rhythm, they're a very difficult team to beat," said L.A. attacker Landon Donovan. "Our intention is not to let them do that ... I think they've had it in some of their games a little bit too easy to do those things. We're going to make it difficult."

L.A. intends to accomplish that goal by imposing their own midfield game on RSL, one that features Dema Kovalenko's attack dog tendencies in a holding role, and Beckham's radar-guided passing, which can tend to negate RSL's apparent edge in mobility.

Kovalenko's matchup against good friend and former teammate Morales will be especially telling. In a season that has seen Morales receive increased physical abuse from opponents, the Argentinean has had to steel himself mentally. Kovalenko can be counted on to deliver more of the same, although staying close to Morales can be a challenge.

"Only [Beckerman] really sits in the middle," said Kovalenko. "Everybody else is going around, moving around, interchanging. It's not easy to deal with them, but we are ready."

L.A.'s unit is also one with several interchangeable parts. Donovan has lined up as a second striker and in a wide midfield role, often swapping positions with Mike Magee. Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein have been called upon to provide service from the wings, while Chris Birchall can provide the kind of two-way presence to help cover for Beckham when he ventures forward.

But amid all of these possible combinations, it is Beckham's passing combined with Donovan's pace that creates the most concern for RSL.

"You're never going to deny [Beckham] the ball for an entire 90 minutes," said Kreis. "It's a question of how close can you be to him, how quickly can you close him down when he receives it so he can't pick his head up and pick out those passes."

What makes marking Beckham and Donovan especially difficult is their penchant for floating all over the field. But RSL intend to use this tendency against the Galaxy, especially when the ball turns over.

"I think when [Beckham] moves around and stuff, we're going to go and attack the space he just left," said Beckerman. "Mainly his roaming is going deep in defense to collect the ball. That's fine with us."

Let the midfield battle begin.

Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com.