Galaxy hope to hand RBNY first loss
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Harrison, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Galaxy and Red Bull New York renew their high-profile rivalry at Red Bull Arena on Sunday as the short-handed Galaxy attempt to hand the Red Bulls their first defeat of the season.
New York is the only team left in MLS that has yet to taste defeat, with the club having won three of its last four outings, including a 2-0 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes.
Sacha Kljestan and Mike Grella provided the goals for RBNY, which matched the club's best start to a season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With both Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill leaving at the end of last season, expectations were much lower ahead of this year.
But despite the club's strong start to the season, first-year head coach Jesse Marsch is quick to point out that it doesn't change anything about the approach the team has.
"It doesn't really change what we're trying to do everyday," Marsch said. "We still try to stay true to who we are and how we're moving things along. We have to be aware of the fact that teams are going to scout us and now know how we're playing."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Despite the surprising start for the Red Bulls, Kljestan echoed Marsch's thoughts about not changing anything, and he feels that his side will just continue to play with a chip on their shoulder.
"The thing for us is not to get ahead of ourselves," said Kljestan, who was one of the key offseason additions for the Red Bulls. "It's still too early to say, 'Oh yeah, we're on top of the East,' and all that. Like I said, we're going to play with that chip on our shoulder because we felt that a lot of people doubted us from the beginning. Now we have a lot of respect because we're the last unbeaten team and things like that, but we're still going to have that chip on our shoulders."
The Galaxy's season has gotten off to a different kind of start with the club enduring a four-game winless skid from March into early April before responding with back-to-back wins.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Los Angeles has been plagued by injuries thus far with 11 different players having been sidelined at some point, including three different options at center back to partner Omar Gonzalez.
Top scoring threat Robbie Keane has missed the last two games with a groin injury and he won't be ready to play on Sunday either, which won't help against a New York defense that has yielded a league-low four goals.
However, confidence around the club is high with the Galaxy showing the ability to pick up results despite adversity.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's shown a lot of character," Gonzalez said of his team's ability to pick up points despite the rash of injuries. "It's been good to find out how deep you are when you have these injuries, and guys can step up and get the opportunity that they're waiting for, and it just feels great that we still go out there without Robbie Keane and Gyasi [Zardes] and still get results."