Keane: Galaxy won't sit back

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Nov 15, 2012

[MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: Seattle-Los Angeles] The Los Angeles Galaxy takes a 3-0 advantage into Sunday's second leg of their Western Conference final at Seattle (TV: ESPN, 9 pm ET), knowing that no team has ever come back from a three-goal deficit in the MLS Cup playoffs to win. But Irish star Robbie Keane says the Galaxy, who won at San Jose 3-1 in the semifinal round, won't sit back.

“We’re not going there to pack the box and keep everyone behind the ball and letting them bombard us for the whole game,” he said. “As much as we can, we need to try to catch them in the way that we play, which is quick counterattacks.”

The Galaxy has been lethal on counterattacks in its last two games, though Landon Donovan, who has one goal and three assists in the four playoff games, is questionable with a hamstring injury picked up late in the first leg.

A crowd of about 40,000 is expected at CenturyLink Field, where the Sounders almost came back from three goals down in last year's conference semifinals against Real Salt Lake.

“It’s going to be very tough,” Keane added. “It’s going to be a hostile reception with their fans. It’s a game that we have to be wary of. There are no reasons to take this game lightly.”

Keane says he can switch off the crowd noise.

“The crowd goes away when the whistles blows,” he said. “I have played in stadiums of 100,000 and 80,000 people and it goes away. You can switch it off.”