Galaxy, Impact meet playing with very different goals

The LA Galaxy can move from fifth to as high as third place in the Western Conference, while the Montreal Impact are in a near must-win situation in order to have a shot at the final playoff spot in the East. That's what's at stake when the two teams meet Saturday night in Carson, Calif.

The Galaxy (14-13-3, 45 points) looked to be on the verge of missing out on the postseason until Sunday night, when they exploded for a 7-2 win over Sporting Kansas City. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored three goals and Sebastian Lletget added two for the Galaxy, who were down 1-0 early in the match.

The win shot the Galaxy from eighth place and out of the postseason picture to fifth and two points in it. Ibrahimovic, with a franchise-record 26 goals, is tied for second in the league, two behind Los Angeles FC star Carlos Vela. And with the Galaxy facing only one team currently in the playoff picture over their four remaining games, LA is primed to finish strong.

"We need to win," Galaxy coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto told the Galaxy website. "It will be real difficult for the moment where we are in the season. We are confident that we can get a better place in the table (standings)."

The Galaxy got good news with midfielder Romain Alessandrini's return to full practice this week. Alessandrini has been out five months with a knee injury.

The Impact need three points from a win and a loss by New England to move into a tie with the Revolution for seventh place -- the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But Montreal (11-16-4, 37 points) has only three games left to make up ground, and a loss on Saturday in California could be the final blow to the Impact's hopes.

In the midst of trying to make the playoffs, Montreal is also trying to win the Canadian Championship, a club competition for teams in Canada.

"We have to bring that energy and that mentality to LA first," coach Wilmer Cabrera told the MLS website. "But we're going to play another final (at Toronto next week). I'm not worried about playing in Toronto."

--Field Level Media