This shouldn't be a problem considering their recent home dominance in the playoffs.
The Galaxy, who haven't lost a home postseason game in a dozen years, look to eliminate the Seattle Sounders and move closer to the MLS Cup on Sunday night at the Home Depot Center.
Los Angeles, winner of the Supporters' Shield for best record in the league, defeated the Sounders 1-0 at Qwest Field last Sunday in the first leg of this home-and-home series. The Galaxy, who lost to Real Salt Lake in last season's MLS Cup, can advance with a win or a tie, while the Sounders would have to win by two goals to advance or win by one to force series overtime.
Edson Buddle scored the lone goal in the opener by launching a shot from 30 yards out in the 38th minute.
"I don't think anyone thought I would shoot from there - that's why I shot it," said Buddle, whose 17 regular-season goals were second in MLS.
Los Angeles then buckled down defensively and withstood several scoring opportunities from the Sounders, who went 5-0-2 in their final seven regular-season games at Qwest Field.
"It was a pretty classic playoff game where you get a goal on the road and you're defending and you try to get out of here. That's basically what we did," Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena said. "We gotta play to win (Sunday)."
Winning hasn't been much of a problem for Los Angeles at home in the playoffs.
The Galaxy have outscored opponents 12-3 in going 5-0-1 in playoff games at the Home Depot Center, and are 19-2-1 overall at home in the postseason.
"It shows that we are a tough team to beat down here," defender Todd Dunivant told the Galaxy's official website. "Teams have their work cut out for them. But at the same time, those kind of stats only go so far. We can't focus too much on the stats, but it does show that we are a tough team to beat in this building."
The last time Los Angeles, which defeated the Sounders 3-1 at the Home Depot Center in July, lost a home playoff game was against Chicago on Oct. 10, 1998, at the Rose Bowl. The team is 15-0-1 in postseason home games since.
Although Seattle, an expansion team last season, has yet to score in three playoff games, coach Sigi Schmid isn't discouraged.
His team outshot the Galaxy 15-10 in the opener and forced Los Angeles goalie Donovan Ricketts to make several spectacular saves.
"I'm encouraged that we created chances. If you're not creating chances, then you really have to worry," Schmid told the Sounders' official website. "I thought we created chances. I'm disappointed in our inability to finish. A couple were great saves and you take your hat off to them on those, but there were some that we should have finished.
"If we finish better and Donovan doesn't have the game he has, we walk off this field 2-1 or 3-1 winners."
