MLS Conference final preview (cont.)

Western Conference final

Los Angeles vs. Dallas (Sunday, 9 p.m. ET, Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.)

Getting there: There are playoff victories and then there are resounding statements. The Galaxy's first-round destruction of the surprisingly unresponsive Seattle Sounders was the latter. Perhaps Bruce Arena's men were motivated by talk that Seattle was the better team over the back half of a long season. Los Angeles put its heavy edge in big-match experience to work when Edson Buddle's wonder strike and a smothering defense led a 1-0 victory at Qwest Field in the opening leg. Back at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy's professional management in a 2-1 win (3-1 series aggregate win) confirmed the Galaxy as men on a mission, having come so close as MLS Cup runner-up in 2009.

Dallas, meanwhile, took down defending champion Real Salt Lake in the first round. Goals off the bench from Jeff Cunningham and Eric Avila swept the Red Stripes into the lead after one leg. In Utah, Dax McCarty's early goal heaped additional pressure on Real Salt Lake, which got close but just couldn't close the gap. Dallas won its first playoff series since 1999.

Difference-makers: Everyone knows about Landon Donovan's speed and sublime skill. But his diligence over 180 minutes against Seattle was inspirational as he toiled tirelessly to support left back Eddie Lewis (while still contributing to the attack). Meanwhile, David Beckham hits fantastic corner kicks and free kicks. Or maybe you've heard about that.

Center back Omar Gonzalez was a Defender of the Year finalist and 17-goal scorer Edson Buddle (have you seen his terrific playoff goal against Seattle?) is one of three league MVP finalists.

Another league MVP finalist, Colombian creator David Ferreira, propped up a Dallas offense that's still a little light on striking might. His eight goals and 13 assists, so many of those arranged through his ability to hold off defenders and retain possession, boosted what could have been middling production from strikers.

Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was another hero of the opening-round triumph. Hartman, now 36, was always a brilliant shot stopper, but he'd occasionally get into trouble when venturing out of goal. Two unflinching center backs, Ugo Ihemelu and George John, helped make sure Hartman and his still-gimpy knee didn't need to race too far from goal against Real Salt Lake.

While L.A.'s Donovan Ricketts won Goalkeeper of the Year with another solid campaign, Hartman's slightly smaller body of work was more impressive. His 0.62 goals against average not only led the league but also shattered the record (Houston's Pat Onstad, 2007, 0.82).

On the bench: There really is no comparison here. L.A.'s Bruce Arena has much more experience on big stages than any American soccer coach in history. He has two MLS championships and he's making his fifth appearance in a conference final. Oh, there were also a couple of World Cups along the way, too. Meanwhile, Dallas' Schellas Hyndman can hang his hat on two appearances in college soccer's final four. He is in his third year with Dallas, his first pro assignment after 34 years in college coaching.

X's and O's: Los Angeles hits hard on the counter, utilizing Beckham's ability to find Donovan in space. They tend to move the ball quickly and move forward without a lot of dillydallying. And when they lose the ball, they really are the league's gold standard at collective defending, retreating as a unit or pressing as one to look for the telling takeaway.

Dallas prefers to work the ball on the ground, usually through Daniel Hernandez, the holding man in a 4-1-4-1. It moves forward quickly, but in control, with fullbacks who are comfortable on the ball.

Dallas has a chance because, unlike Seattle, which has speed in some spots, the Red Stripes have speed throughout the field. Along those lines, Hyndman must decide between Marvin Chavez's speed on the flank or Atiba Harris' physical presence, which Dallas needs to defend Beckham's pinpoint set-piece deliveries. Brek Shea on the left and Dax McCarty in the middle help provide additional drive from the midfield.

Relevant stats: Los Angeles was the league's best this year, front to back, claiming the Supporters Shield with 59 points and a plus-18 goal difference (second best in MLS).

Dallas was one of the better road teams (4-3-8, plus-2 goal difference), while Los Angeles was just OK at home. The Galaxy's 9-4-2 mark was tied for fifth best.

If we're talking goals and assists, the Donovan-Buddle combo beat all MLS comers with 24 and 18.

Drilling down: The wacky MLS playoff structure really does reward performance over the entire season; teams just have to stick around long enough to enjoy it. Los Angeles survived the opening round and now gets the match at home.

Los Angeles beat Dallas twice this year. In fact, FCD's 1-0 loss to the Galaxy at Pizza Hut Park back on May 20 was the Red Stripes' last one before going on that MLS record-matching 19-game unbeaten streak. Dallas also lost 2-0 at Los Angeles late in the season.

"That's a bigger thing for everyone else than for us," Hyndman said of two losses to L.A. this year. "None of that enters our minds. What enters our mind is, can we handle pressure they'll be putting on us early? If we can ride that pressure like we did at Real Salt Lake, pick up a goal, then they'll have to keep pressing us."

If it works the other way, with L.A. striking first, the visitors are in trouble. The Galaxy in a "defend and counter" rhythm is the Galaxy at their best.

How the man in the middle manages things will say a lot about the result. Ferreira will be easier to contain if Dema Kovalenko, L.A.'s midfield enforcement arm, is allowed to kick and hack with relative impunity as he was in Seattle. If he is made to behave, Ferreira could open L.A.'s back line a time or two.

Prediction: Dallas will have a hard time matching Los Angeles' collective drive, experience and the home-field advantage. Expect L.A., with its two world-class athletes playing with a purpose and on such high-rev, to appear at MLS Cup in Toronto next week.