Fri Aug 29 18:08:44 2008

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Struggling L.A. hopes to snap skid at New England

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Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - Bruce Arena wasn't making any excuses after a 1-0 loss to Chicago last week in his coaching debut for Los Angeles, which was without stars Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

"Those are the cards that we're dealt, and others are dealt," Arena said.

Even with Donovan and Beckham, L.A. has struggled for the last two months in Major League Soccer. The Galaxy are winless in their last nine games and their last win was June 14 against San Jose, 3-0.

That why Arena, the former U.S. national team coach, was brought in to try and revive L.A.'s season.

Amazingly, L.A. (6-9-6) is only two points out of a playoff berth in the wacky Western Conference.

With Donovan and Beckham back in the lineup Saturday at Eastern Conference co- leader New England, L.A. has a chance to snap its losing skid before losing the duo again.

Donovan and Beckham could return to their national teams, the United States and England, respectively, the following weekend.

Arena could have recent signing Eddie Lewis, a U.S. national team midfielder, this weekend but he's another player who will be absent the following week when the U.S. plays Cuba in World Cup qualifying.

Although L.A. leads the league with 40 goals - Donovan leads the team with 14 and Edson Buddle has 12 - it has been shutout in two of its last four.

Buddle will need to add to his scoring total in the coming weeks, especially with Donovan, Beckham and Lewis expected to miss games. In addition, L.A. sent former league MVP Carlos Ruiz to Toronto FC to free up salary to sign Lewis.

New England (11-6-4) is also shorthanded, but because of injuries.

Midfielder Steve Ralston became the eighth player on the injured list last week because of back spasms. Ralston leads the team with six goals and is tied for the team lead with five assists.

Among those ruled out this weekend are forward Adam Cristman, who also has six goals this season. Kheli Dube, Chris Albright, Kenny Mansally, Gary Flood and starting goalie Matt Reis are also dealing with injuries.

Luckily for New England, star striker Taylor Twellman is regaining form and has three goals in his last four matches. Twellman has four goals in seven games.

"I'm just trying to find my legs and it'll take a little while. ... I'll listen to my body and make sure I'm giving it the right amount of rest after being out for so long," Twellman said.

New England earned a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC last weekend, but then dropped the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions League qualifying series against Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, 2-1.

"Anybody who thought it was going to be easy doesn't know anything," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. " ...They were a yard quicker than us all night. It was difficult for us because it gave them such an advantage."

New England defeated L.A., 2-1, on July 4 in the teams' only meeting this year. Cristman scored both goals for New England, while Beckham scored for L.A.

Overall, New England has won the last five matches between the clubs and hasn't lost in regular season league play since 2004. L.A.'s only win over New England since then was a 1-0 overtime victory in the MLS Cup in 2005.

Nicol isn't worried about the history but he is worried about his players. With such a busy schedule this season, injuries are piling up and more players are breaking down nearly every week.

"When you play tired, people get injured," Nicol said. "We can't keep losing guys. Eventually, the well is goin