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By Joseph D'Hippolito
CONCACAF.com
CARSON, California -- After winning MLS Cup last year, the Los Angeles Galaxy adopted the slogan, "Champions Live Here." Yet even with stars like David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, the Galaxy has yet to break through in the CONCACAF Champions' League.
In its first appearance in 2010, the Galaxy suffered a first-round upset to the second-division Puerto Rico Islanders by a 5-3 aggregate score -- including a 4-1 loss at home in the first leg.
Last year, Los Angeles edged out Morelia of Mexico and Costa Rica's Alajuelense on goal difference to win their four-team group. But in the quarterfinals in March, Toronto FC eliminated the Galaxy when Nick Soolsma scored in the 67th minute of the second leg at The Home Depot Center.
Without that strike, Los Angeles would have reached the semifinals on away goals. Instead, Toronto advanced on a 4-3 aggregate tally.
"We were fairly unlucky," said Keane, whose close-range, goal-bound shot in the 75th minute of the second leg was knocked away with a reflexive right arm by goalkeeper Milos Kocic.
This season, the Galaxy will compete in a three-team group with El Salvador's Isidro Metapan and the Puerto Rico Islanders. It will host Metapan on August 23 and the Islanders six days later, before travelling to Puerto Rico on September 19 and then El Salvador on October 25.
"Having two less games in the group stages, that'll be nice," Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant said. "Obviously, it puts the onus on winning those games and getting through. But at the same time, I think everyone would prefer that setup."
The new format tries will reduce travel, but the the Galaxy will have to commute through four time zones in group play during the second half of its league season.
"The travel is almost impossible," Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena said. "It's quite difficult in the middle of your season when you're playing three games, when you're going 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) from home."
Long-distance travel adds to the challenge of trying to concentrate on league play and the CCL at different times during the same season.
"It's difficult," Dunivant said. "But I think we did a really good job on focusing on one thing and then moving to the next. We didn't look ahead. We weren't looking past anybody in the league or in Champions' League.
"That served us well on both fronts. We won the Supporters' Shield (for having the best record in Major League Soccer) and we won our group in Champions' League. Taking it one game at a time makes a big difference."
Maintaining that discipline be pivotal to the Galaxy's hopes of winning the CCL.
"In the last couple of years, you've seen a bigger emphasis throughout the (U.S.) league on Champions' League," Dunivant said. "This year, with only three teams per group, there's not going to be a lot of room for error. You really have to get your points and get them early."
