The New York Red Bulls suffered not one, but two key losses during the first leg of the Eastern Conference Final Sunday against the New England Revolution. 

In the 2-1 loss at Red Bull Arena, Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips picked up a silly yellow card in the 60th minute for bothering Revolution 'keeper Bobby Shuttleworth before a goal kick. 

By picking up a yellow card in the softest way possible during an extremely chippy match, Wright-Phillips earned himself a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation. 

After the match, Wright-Phillips and his teammates had no idea that a yellow card would earn him a suspension. New York manager Mike Petke failed to tell his players about the rule because he didn't want his team playing scared.

How a manager fails to tell one of his key players something so important before a big match is just baffling. Petke's decision to not speak about the rules could end up costing his side in the second leg at Gillette Stadium Saturday. 

The opportunistic Wright-Phillips found the back of the net on 27 occasions in the regular season and four times in the postseason. Although he may not be the most talented player on the pitch for New York, Wright-Phillips is a game-changing forward. 

He has benefited greatly from his connection with Thierry Henry, and he has been in the right place at the right time to clean up plenty of mess inside the box this season. His 27th-minute strike Sunday is a perfect example of how he has been scoring throughout the 2014 campaign. 

Now with Wright-Phillips not available for selection, Petke finds himself in a massive jam, as he has to search for someone to score a crucial away goal or two against a dangerous New England team.

The good news for Petke is he can redeem himself by picking a lineup that challenges New England from the opening whistle on the turf at Gillette Stadium. 

His selection dilemma starts with where to place Henry, who has lined up on the left side of a 4-2-3-1 over the last two months. The French star has scored on 10 occasions in 2014, but only two of those strikes have come on the road. 

Luckily for the Red Bulls, Henry will overcome his vulnerability to turf in the second leg. Henry insisted he will play Saturday, which is a step forward compared to every other trip he has made to New England. The 37-year-old usually sits out matches played on the surface. 

Petke also has a chance to take advantage of the red-hot Peguy Luyindula in attack, but where he places the Frenchman on the field will be crucial. If he keeps Luyindula in the middle of the attacking trio, he would have to push Eric Alexander out wide and place Tim Cahill in one of the defensive midfield positions.

Since moving to the 4-2-3-1, Petke has utilized Alexander in the defensive midfield next to Dax McCarty. Before he exited the first leg, Alexander neutralized the threat of Most Valuable Player candidate Lee Nguyen. Tweaking that successful midseason adjustment could prove to be a fatal move for Petke and the Red Bulls. 

Another suspension that limits Petke's lineup changes is the one of Roy Miller, who is ineligible for both legs after a stupid high challenge saw him receive a red card in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal. 

If Petke had Miller available for Saturday's match, he could have moved Ambroise Oyongo up to the left wing and placed Henry up top. That would have been the ideal move for Petke, and it still may happen if he feels comfortable putting someone other than Oyongo at left-back. 

Ultimately, Petke is at fault for putting his side in this situation, and he will have to pull them out of it to advance to MLS Cup.

The young manager has earned plenty of praise for his tactical moves over the last few months. But if he finds a way to come out of New England with a win Saturday, he will be praised for overcoming his biggest mistake yet. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

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You could not script more exciting scenarios for the second legs of the Western and the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2014 MLS Cup playoffs.

Out West, the Los Angeles Galaxy outlasted the Seattle Sounders in Game 1, 1-0. In the East, the New England Revolution beat the New York Red Bulls, 2-1.

Each series is only two legs, and the winner is determined by the aggregate score. That means the one-goal margins in each game were critical because the losers are still very much alive in the race for the MLS Cup. With that in mind, here is a look at the schedule and the broadcast information for the conference finals.

Western Conference

The Western Conference Finals shift to Seattle for the second leg after the Galaxy won behind Marcelo Sarvas’ goal.

While Los Angeles only won 1-0, the result was hardly in doubt because of the strong defense. The Galaxy have seven shutouts in their past 10 home games and actually haven’t even allowed a single goal in more than 270 postseason minutes. 

The defense is anchoring the team right now, and there is no reason to expect anything different in Game 2. Part of the problem for the Sounders was that Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle both missed Game 1, but Don Ruiz of The News Tribune noted that Alonso could come back for the next contest:

While the Galaxy pitched the shutout and got the win, the deficit would have been more than 1-0 if it weren’t for Seattle’s impressive defensive efforts as well. That defense has given up two goals in three postseason games and is the best chance the Sounders have at getting back into this series. 

Still, Los Angeles has the advantage because of that 1-0 deficit, and its defense is on a roll, as Arash Markazi of ESPN pointed out:

That record is so impressive, because once the Galaxy get a lead, they use that excellent defense to take the air out of the game. They will technically already have the lead entering the second leg of this series, so expect that style of play from the opening minute.

That will be enough to at least clinch a tie and advance to the MLS Cup. 

Prediction: Galaxy win the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference Finals shift to New England for the second game after the Revolution beat New York behind Jermaine Jones’ late goal. Incredibly, it was New England’s first-ever win at Red Bull Arena.

All the Revolution have to do is win, draw or lose 1-0 in order to advance, so they are in an ideal position heading into the second leg. Making matters worse for the Red Bulls, their leading goal scorer, Bradley Wright-Phillips, will sit out the second game with a suspension.

He picked up his second yellow card of the postseason, which means he cannot play. Wright-Phillips commented on it, per Franco Panizo of MLSSoccer.com: “I didn't know the rules of the yellow card accumulation. I'm angry, obviously. I'm angry. Stupid yellow card and now I have to pay.”

Wright-Phillips scored New York’s one goal in the first game and represented the Red Bulls’ best chance to pick up the two-goal victory they would need. The impact of his loss cannot be overstated.

What’s more, New England is 11-1-1 since Jones joined the team in August, and he demonstrated why when he scored the game-winning goal. His presence in the midfield helps on both ends of the field, and the defense will need to be strong in Game 2 because the Red Bulls will be on the attack.

All New England has to do is lose 1-0 to get through. With Jones anchoring the midfield, it will do more than that and reach the MLS Cup. 

Prediction: New England wins the Eastern Conference.

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On the surface, October 26 seemed like any other home finale for Chivas USA at the StubHub Center. 

The fans in attendance were treated to a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. The victory helped Wilmer Cabrera's side earn their third win in the final four games of the Major League Soccer season. 

"I was really just focused on the game," Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy said. 

However, once the final whistle blew, reality started to set in. Just a day later, MLS would issue a statement ceasing operations of the club immediately.

After 10 seasons as a professional soccer franchise, Chivas USA was no more. They became the third franchise in MLS history to fold. Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were dissolved in 2001. 

As he usually did after home matches, Kennedy went out to the crowd and thanked them for their support. But this interaction with the fans would be his last. 

"It hit me a bit when I grabbed my wife and my mom to bring them out on the field," Kennedy said. "Normally I try to get out and shake the hands of some of the fans anyway." 

Despite the poor results of the past few years, the supporters' groups of the club were out in full force to celebrate one final emotional moment with the club. 

“To be honest with you, it was difficult," Union Ultras leader Julio "El Chiva Mayor" Ramos said. "But at the end of the day, we're a passionate supporters' group and we will support our team no matter what. It was tough, but it was something that we wanted to do. It was from the heart." 

Kennedy wasn't the only player who was out on the pitch thanking fans that day, but his story resonated more due to his long tenure at the club as well as an emotional photo.

"The kid has come to games every year since he was in diapers. I saw how much it meant to him. In his eyes, it was a sad moment," Kennedy said.

"My mom and wife were just cruising around taking pictures, taking in the moment exactly how I was. I think they really got emotional at that moment as well. They saw how much it meant to this kid."

Things weren't always as bleak for Chivas USA, who entered MLS in 2005 along with fellow expansion side Real Salt Lake. 

The team, who was owned by Jorge Vergara and Antonio Cue, was supposed to be an American version of Mexican club Chivas Guadalajara. Chivas USA wore the same colors and sported a near-identical badge as their parent club. 

"Obviously Chivas came in thinking they were going to have a huge following because of Chivas Guadalajara and I don't think it ever came to fruition as it was envisioned," Kennedy said. 

Success came quickly for the Goats, who needed just two years to spring to the top of the Western Conference. 

The club was put in the right direction by Bob Bradley, who went on to become the manager of the United States men's national team. 

“When I got there, it was 2006 and Bob Bradley was the head coach," Preki, who was an assistant under Bradley before becoming the head coach from 2007-09, said.

"I just joined the club as an assistant. At that point, the club really wasn't at a good stage. Bob started a process. He changed the squad and that year [2006] was the first time ever Chivas made the playoffs."

In 2007, Preki took over after assisting Bradley during the 2006 campaign, which saw Chivas USA finish third in the West. 

"Bob left and I continued the process. We still made a couple of changes and tried to get better," Preki said. "From my view, the club was always on the way up and the results were showing that."  

Chivas USA took the Western Conference by storm in 2007 by finishing first with 53 points and 15 wins in 30 games. The club was two points away from clinching the Supporters' Shield, which was earned by D.C. United. 

"We were getting the respect from clubs around the league," Preki said. "People knew when they played Chivas, they were going to be hard games." 

That same year, Chivas USA's biggest rival, the LA Galaxy, made a splash by bringing in David Beckham as the league's first designated player. Beckham teamed up with Landon Donovan to form a star-studded side, but they could not knock Chivas out of first place. 

"We were almost as equal as the Galaxy. We didn't have any designated players, we didn't spend a lot of money. We were on top of them," Preki said.

"The Galaxy was a really good team. They had Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Those are two top quality players. For us to be competing with them and a few times being above them, I think it's a huge success." 

The two stars for the Goats in 2007 were Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov, who finished fifth and sixth in the Golden Boot race with 12 and 11 goals respectively. 

A direct line of communication between head coach and ownership helped make 2007 a dream season for the new kids on the block in MLS. 

"My first year at Chivas, I had direct communication with [owner] Antonio Cue," Preki said. "I was able to earn his trust and he was letting me do my job. I take pride in my job and I think I did my job pretty well."

Chivas USA failed to score a goal in their two-leg Western Conference semifinal series with the Kansas City Wizards in 2007, but that did not deter them from making progress the next year. 

In 2008, the Goats continued their success under Preki with a second-place finish in the West. Despite the strong regular season, they were knocked out of the playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals by Real Salt Lake. 

"We had an older group of guys like Ante Razov and Jesse Marsch. It was a really experienced group," Kennedy, who joined the club in 2008, said. "Certainly the structure was there and we were a competitive group." 

“They built a strong squad," Ramos said. "It wasn't just a strong team on the field, there was a strong team in the front office. We used to have more than 15,000 fans in the stadium." 

After the 2008 season, things started to go downhill for a variety of reasons at the club. The 2009 season brought a fourth-place finish in the West, and a playoff loss to the rival Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinals. 

"I think we were very fortunate in '07, '08, '09 to have a good team," defender Bobby Burling, who played for the club from 2007-09 and 2012-14 said. "We had a good group of young and old." 

Just like any successful club, Chivas USA saw interest from other teams in their key players. The first of the key players to depart for Europe was goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who earned a move to Aston Villa in the summer of 2008.

Two years later, the departures of Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan to Europe rid the club of the impressive young talent they had developed. 

If there is any positive legacy left by the club, it is the development of three players who went on to succeed at club level and with the United States. 

"We had Bornstein, Kljestan and Guzan make big moves in their careers and Chivas played a part in that," Burling said. "For these players to go to bigger clubs and make their careers, it's really a testament to what they did in MLS and what kind of team we had." 

Before Bornstein and Kljestan left for good in 2010, the team began to fall apart. Preki's final season with the club would be 2009, which would also mark the last time Chivas USA would appear in the MLS Cup playoffs. 

"My first year, I actually talked with [owner] Antonio Cue directly. That was the year we had the most success," Preki said.

"After that, they decided to bring on board [former president and CEO] Shawn Hunter and get other people involved. It became a little bit more difficult. Everybody started getting involved, and when everybody started getting involved, that's when things started getting lost.

"The owner believed we all get hired to do certain jobs at the club and that we should all have responsibility. And we should be accountable for them. When people start going into other people's business, that's when things went wrong."

With young stars departing and older players retiring, Chivas USA needed to rebuild. Unfortunately it didn't happen and a downward spiral began.

"After that 2008 season we started losing pieces and then 2009 was Preki's last year. We were a playoff team in 2009. That was Preki's last year and that was the year in which we started losing," Kennedy said.

"I sensed the club was going in a different direction, and I wasn't going to agree with the things they were going to do," Preki said. "The best way was to part ways. Let the people who ran the club do things their own way. Obviously we all found out which way the club went." 

Burling was another to head for pastures new at the same time.

"I left for San Jose after 2009. When I was in San Jose, I was kind of an outsider, but I still had friends on the team and asked them what was going on. It's one of those things where once the results start going wrong, everything starts going the wrong way," Burling said. 

"We had retired players, we lost that core group of guys that everything had been built on and shortly thereafter we lost Jonny Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan to transfers," Kennedy said. "The team was gutted. That was the moment in which we needed consistency." 

The wrong form of consistency was found, as the club finished no higher than seventh place in the final five years of their existence. The lone seventh-place finish came in 2014 after the good run of form in October. During that span, Chivas USA would employ five different managers. 

"The biggest mistakes [the owner] made throughout the years were too many changes, it caused a loss of direction," Ramos said.

"Coming full circle looking at the team over the last three seasons, we just didn't really have an identity," Burling said. "We were always in the state of a coaching change or some type of change within the organization.

"As players, we were at fault because the coaching change stems from results. We felt responsible at times, but sometimes certain things are out of our hands."

"We needed a long-term approach to build a vision and no coach was given that opportunity in my mind. From there, it was in constant flux," Kennedy said.

"If you just look around this league and look at the teams that are successful, the majority of them that are successful year after year have been together for a long time." 

In the final years of the club's existence, there were always rumors about the future of the club. No player knew this better than Kennedy, who experienced plenty of ups and downs after joining in 2008. 

“There was quite a bit of speculation in previous years, too. I guess for me being here so long, I've gotten used to it," Kennedy said.

"I didn't have a contract offered to me when they drafted me. I was cut after they signed me. On multiple occasions, [owner Jorge] Vergara would say in the press that I was being replaced before the season even started."

"One of the things I learned how to do was deal with that and whatever was being said didn't matter," Kennedy said. "What mattered for me was my performance, how I acted in the locker room and making sure that the young players on the team understood that." 

Despite all of the rumors swirling about the future of the club, the attitude in the locker room always stayed the same. 

"I would say for the most part, our locker room was a great group of guys. We rarely had a bad apple," Burling said.

"Most of the guys got along, whether there was a language barrier or not. We still like to joke around and do the same stuff. From that aspect, the locker room wasn't a toxic situation at all. It was kept pretty mellow." 

The players received something of a message about the future in 2014, when MLS purchased the club from Vergara who, with his wife, had become sole owners of Chivas USA after they bought out Cue and his brother Lorenzo in 2012. 

Even though the league was in control, no concrete status update was given until October 27 when the club ceased operations.

Burling said: "It was a pretty strange scenario to be a part of. I think most of the domestic players had a better understanding of what was going on whereas some of the foreign guys, who don't really know the league as much as we do, didn't.

"Some of these guys are on loan and moved far away with their families to enjoy life in the States, and to try to have a career in MLS. They kept coming to us wanting answers.

"All we were getting were rumors at that point. It was extremely difficult. With the rumors kind of swirling, people began wondering what their next move was. Wondering what's going to happen. Am I going to be here? Am I not?"

Despite all of the confusion about the club's status, the players rallied to give the fans one final moment to be proud of. Chivas USA rolled off wins over Real Salt Lake, Colorado and San Jose in the final month of the season to lift themselves out of last place in the West. The wins were the first in October for Chivas USA since the 3-0 victory on October 9, 2010 over Toronto FC. 

"We hadn't won a game in October in four seasons. It was extremely difficult, where all we would hear were rumors," Burling said.

"We couldn't really speculate too much on what was going on. We had to take care of our business on the field, as hard as that was at some times.

"It's a testament to the guys. The last month of the season we were like 'screw it, this thing is basically folding as we know it. Let's just go out and try and put in some solid performances and win a few games down the stretch'."

The final match of the season brought with it a familiar task for the club in regards to the job on the pitch. Despite how well the club played that day, the inevitable was waiting to happen less than 24 hours later. 

"I guess I was just really focused on that game," Kennedy said. "A lot of people asked me leading up to that how I was feeling. To be honest, It was definitely strange, and in many ways, I was ready for this."

Preki was an interested an frustrated spectator as Chivas USA heading to the cliff's edge.

"In my opinion, it's pretty disappointing because I know how hard it is to make it and to make a team become successful," Preki said. "For that all to fall apart that fast, it was incredibly disappointing to me." 

Three days after Chivas USA ceased operations, a new ownership group was led in front of a group of reporters and fans to announce the formation of LAFC, which will begin play in 2017. 

Based on everything the ownership group of LAFC has said, the club will not make the same mistakes that Chivas USA once made. 

Another key factor for the new club will be the creation of their own stadium. During Chivas USA's existence, they shared the same building as the LA Galaxy.

"The one thing that is definitely in the right direction is they are trying to distance themselves from the StubHub Center and the Galaxy," Burling said. 

"We were paying rent to use another team's stadium, which is a difficult thing to distance yourself from.

"I think the new ownership group has the backing capable of finding the right situation in LA to build their own stadium; to have their own identity and brand and something that relates well to this area."

LAFC will not go into MLS alone, as the fans from Chivas USA have decided to get behind the new club. 

"We're looking at a bright future. We know we're going to have some investors that are going to build a new stadium and bring in a strong squad," Ramos said.

"They're going to do it the right way. Why do I believe that? Because they have to learn from the many mistakes Chivas USA made. I'm very confident we're going to have a strong team." 

Despite all the early momentum behind LAFC, the work behind the scenes must be done in order to put out a successful product in the first year.

"It's always going to depend on the ownership. Who they hire, how they run the business, what their goals are, are they going to get designated players," Preki, who now manages Sacramento Republic FC of the USL Pro league, said.

"These are all of the factors that play into it. It's not easy to become successful." 

"You have to find a way to win," Kennedy said. "I think they do have an advantage over Chivas with that. If you want a great atmosphere in Los Angeles, winning is the key ingredient." 

As for the future of the players, they were subjected to a dispersal draft on November 19. The only player not involved in the process was young Mexican forward Erick "Cubo" Torres. His future should be determined by mid-December per a report on MLSSoccer.com. 

Kennedy was selected first in the Dispersal Draft by FC Dallas. He was one of seven players selected by the 20 teams in the league. The goalkeeper was the only league veteran chosen, as the other six were young up-and-coming players. 

"The reality is for the last few years I've been dealing with new teammates and coaches anyway," Kennedy said.

"The location is most likely going to be different, but in terms of adjusting to a new environment, I think I'm quite used to that. I'm embracing it and I'm excited for a new challenge and hopefully put some more wins in that W column." 

Burling was not selected in the Dispersal Draft, which means he will enter the player pool for the Re-Entry Draft on December 10. Players are usually entered into the Re-Entry Draft when they are out of contract. If he is selected during the re-entry process, his new club has the ability to negotiate a new contract with him. 

"In our occupation, there's always that state of unknown," Burling said. "You can move at any time and it's definitely part of the job description, but at the same time, it is stressful." 

The players have already begun to move on from Chivas USA. The league has, too. But the club's legacy must not be forgotten. If it is, we could be talking about another club following in the path about Chivas USA, which is not something any professional league wants to experience. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 

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The final international window closed last week, and it ended with a whimper for the U.S. men's national team after dropping two friendlies. They lost 2-1 to Colombia before a lackluster 4-1 defeat against Ireland.

Jurgen Klinsmann's recent team selection has been odd, to say the least. Calling up veterans such as Kyle Beckerman and Matt Besler is counter-productive, since they'll be stalwarts for the USMNT for awhile. 

There are several players in MLS that can fill voids in Klinsmann's squad. The names in this slideshow address a positional issue with the team, provide experience and/or depth in certain positions. They also have to be under the age of 30, or they would not be realistic options for the 2018 World Cup.

Here are 12 players that Klinsmann could add to his team in future friendlies and tournaments.

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The Major League Soccer Conference Finals kicked off with a bang this past weekend with LA and New England earning leads heading into the second leg next weekend. 

In the two matches Sunday afternoon, plenty of individuals turned in terrific showings at Red Bull Arena and StubHub Center. 

Most of the dominant performances came in the middle of the park, which led us to shape our MLS Team of the Week in a 4-5-1 formation.

Continue reading on for a look at which 11 players earned a spot in the MLS Team of the Week. 

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After a two-week hiatus to accommodate the November international break, the MLS playoffs were back in action this weekend with the first legs of the Eastern and Western conference finals being played on Sunday.

In the East, the New England Revolution picked up a 2-1 win on the road over the New York Red Bulls, while, in the West, the LA Galaxy won at home 1-0 over the Seattle Sounders.

Here are five things we learned from the games.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the first leg of the Western Conference Final at the StubHub Center on Sunday. Marcelo Sarvas scored the only goal of the match.

This scoreline gives the Galaxy a slight edge entering the second game in Seattle. The Sounders may be in tough given that they failed to get a decisive away goal.

There were a few takeaways from Sunday's affair which decided the match and could have an impact on the second leg. Here are five things that we learned in the conference final.

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After 90 minutes of play in the Western Conference Final, the LA Galaxy hold a 1-0 lead over the Seattle Sounders. 

The score does not represent how well the Galaxy played at StubHub Center on Sunday. Bruce Arena's side dominated the possession battle by earning 60 percent. And they also had some of the better attacking moves forward. 

However, the Galaxy are only ahead by one goal on aggregate after forcing just three of their 20 shots on target against a stingy Seattle back four. The biggest missed opportunity came late in the match, when Chad Marshall slid in to deflect an Alan Gordon shot out of play.

Marshall was on the wrong side of a deflection in the 52nd minute, when Marcelo Sarvas' shot hit the center-back on its way into the back of the net. If the deflection did not occur, the Galaxy may still be on level terms with the Sounders. 

As the two sides prepare for the clash in seven days' time at CenturyLink Field, one has to wonder if the Galaxy did enough on their home field to hand themselves a solid advantage. 

In two matches this season in Seattle, the two sides each came out victorious on one occasion. LA thrashed Seattle 3-0 back on July 28 with Marshall out injured. Seattle returned the favor on the final weekend of the regular season with a 2-0 victory to clinch the Supporters' Shield. 

Sunday's first leg of the Western Conference Final mirrored the Galaxy's July victory, as they had plenty of success attacking down the left wing against DeAndre Yedlin. If the Galaxy replicate a performance like that once again, we could see them beat Stefan Frei to earn an early away goal in the second leg. 

With the away goals rule now in effect during the MLS Cup playoffs, the Galaxy seem to have the advantage on paper if they can beat Frei at any point during the second leg. However, the Sounders have conceded one goal in their last three home matches. With a back line led by Marshall and Zach Scott, Seattle has given opponents plenty of fits recently at home. 

The other factor that could potentially go against the Galaxy is the health of two key players. A.J. DeLaGarza and Marcelo Sarvas both exited the match in the second half due to injuries. DeLaGarza picked up a knock to his hamstring, while Sarvas was diagnosed with a left thigh contusion. 

DeLaGarza was a key to the Galaxy's success on the right side of the pitch, while Sarvas is a crucial part of the midfield machine alongside Juninho. Replacing DeLaGarza may be easier with Dan Gargan and Todd Dunivant on the bench. But losing Sarvas would absolutely destroy the midfield chemistry he has created with Juninho. 

The possible switch in personnel in midfield could be fatal, especially if Osvaldo Alonso is deemed healthy to play for the second leg. Seattle's midfield maestro picked up a knock in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal against FC Dallas. 

Pairing Alonso next to Gonzalo Pineda in the middle of the park against a weakened Galaxy pair may give the Sounders the advantage they need in the possession battle. 

If the Galaxy are without Sarvas, Seattle should be able to control possession more to create chances for Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. Despite having little impact on the match for long stretches, the duo did combine for the only three shots put on target by the Sounders.

Regardless of who lines up across from them, Dempsey and Martins will be looking to break their respective postseason slumps in the biggest game of the season yet. Alonso is the lone Seattle player to find the back of the net this postseason. 

The Galaxy may have done enough to earn a home victory in the first leg Sunday. But with so many variables in play in the week leading up to the second leg, it is worth questioning if it was enough. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com. 

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Marcelo Sarvas scored the only goal at StubHub Center as the Los Angeles Galaxy prevailed 1-0 over the Seattle Sounders in Sunday's Western Conference semi-final first leg.

The Major League Soccer rivals contested a tight, physical first half in Carson, California, but just seven minutes after the restart, Sarvas' drive from 17 yards took a deflection before beating Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

Overall, there were a handful of standout performances at the home of the four-time champions, as well as a few underwhelming displays. We'll look at examples from both categories in the following slideshow.

Here are the individual winners and losers from this contest.

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The LA Galaxy booked a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in the first leg of MLS' Western Conference Final on Sunday, setting up an interesting scenario for next week's return leg with an eye on the MLS Cup. 

The new away-goals rule means that if the Galaxy score once in Seattle, the Sounders will need three to progress to the next round. That fixture, which will be played on Sunday, should provide fans with a lot more drama and excitement than today's nervy affair.    

Seattle started the match on fire, immediately applying high pressure and displaying a lot of physicality in the duels. DeAndre Yedlin was booked after just three minutes for an apparent elbow on Robbie Keane, although the veteran certainly contributed to the incident.

Inside MLS was hardly surprised:

The ball went up and down the pitch really well in the opening stages, and Keane came close to opening the score just one minute later, but his acrobatic effort missed the target. The MLS' Twitter feed had a nice angle of the action, right behind the goal:

Gyasi Zardes then forced Stefan Frei into action for the first time with a well-taken shot, but the goalkeeper was equal to the task.

The Sounders' first chance came from a tricky corner that wasn't dealt with well by the hosts, before Jaime Penedo dove onto the ball to avoid disaster. Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey then forced the 33-year-old into a great double save, prompting this tweet from MLS' feed:

Sounders Matchday gave the stopper his due:

Keane wanted a penalty in the 31st minute, but replays showed nothing to suggest any of the Sounders defenders had done anything wrong. Martins then got his foot onto a long ball from a free kick, but his shot went over the bar.

Seattle had the better chances at this stage of the match, but Penedo continued to make one fine save after the other. Not to be outdone, Frei produced one final stop before halftime, reacting well to keep out a corner kick.

Still scoreless at halftime, Goal's Ives Galarcep thought the Galaxy did a good job controlling possession but that the hosts were fortunate to have Penedo manning the goal:

Some great passing from Martins and Dempsey had the Panama stopper stealing the spotlight five minutes into the second half, saving a cheeky chip from the latter. Galarcep warned the hosts:

Los Angeles committed more bodies forward in the second half to take advantage of its advantage in possession, and Frei had to intervene when a loose ball nearly bounced off a Sounders player's leg and into the net.

He was powerless to deny Marcelo Sarvas' deflected effort, however, as the hosts took the lead 52 minutes in. His shot bounced off Chad Marshall's foot and past Frei, as shown by Raza Deportiva:

Frei was furious with his defenders for not picking up the free man, and ITV's Kristan Heneage believed he had every right to be:

The Galaxy immediately pushed for a second and came close as a Landon Donovan cross was nearly deviated into the net by both Sarvas and Zardes. Martins and Dempsey were receiving no help in the attacking third of Seattle, making the hosts' defensive assignments that much easier.

For all of its efforts, Seattle hardly produced any danger of note. Martins had a chance on the break but went looking for his strike partner, wasting a window for an opportunity with a poor pass. 

The hosts easily held possession thanks to the Sounders' inability to chase the ball into open areas, and NBC's Arlo White was worried their tendency to hang around the box instead of clearing upfield could lead to even more trouble:

The level of the match dropped following a host of substitutions, with neither team looking particularly threatening in the attacking third. A 1-0 win for Los Angeles seemed the logical conclusion with 10 minutes left to play, and both teams were content to defend and head for the dressing room with such a score.

KICK TV's Jimmy Conrad congratulated the hosts, but he's sure the fans will see a whole different match in the return leg:

A one-goal lead is a slim one for LA, but the new away-goals rule gives the team a big advantage heading into the return match next Sunday. A single goal would force Seattle to score three to advance, and against an in-form Penedo, that will be easier said than done.

CenturyLink Field is one of the toughest stadiums to visit in the MLS, but after the first leg, the Galaxy should feel good about their chances of qualifying for the MLS Cup on Dec. 7. 

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