Union looks for momentum before World Cup break

Desperate for points in the midst of a disappointing season, the Union head to Los Angeles to play the Galaxy on Sunday.

With just three games until the league's World Cup break, the team needs to begin turning things around.

"Obviously having a two-game road swing on the West Coast is not an ideal time to say they have to get results, but that's, in fact, where we are," manager John Hackworth said Wednesday. "We have to do that."

The match against the Galaxy will come eight days after the Union were dismantled at PPL Park by the New England Revolution, 5-3. The Union fell behind by 5-1 before scoring two late goals.

The Union hope playing on the road can once again serve as a respite from their troubles at home. Last week, the team earned a much-needed victory at Sporting Kansas City, 2-1, after going winless in their previous nine games. Any momentum from that win was short-lived, though, with the blowout loss to the Revolution coming three days later.

After the Galaxy game, the team will stay in Los Angeles for a week for its May 31 match against Chivas USA. The road trip will give the players time to develop camaraderie.

"That's important, because I think when you're in these moments when things are not going your way, you've got to stick together, and you've got to fight through it," Hackworth said.

Midfielder Brian Carroll is expected to play Sunday after missing two games with a left groin pull. Hackworth said Carroll's return will shore up a struggling back line because it will allow Amobi Okugo to go back to defense after filling in as midfielder.

Midfielder Maurice Edu also will be back after getting cut Thursday by the U.S. World Cup team. But midfielder Cristian Maidana will be ineligible after receiving a red card in the Revolution match.

The Galaxy will regain forward Landon Donovan, who also was cut by the national team, but will be without defender Omar Gonzalez, who made the World Cup squad.

The Galaxy will be looking to build on Tuesday's 2-1 victory over FC Dallas.

The Union, meanwhile, will aim to turn things around.

"It's an opportunity to make things right," Carroll said. "There's not really much else to say about it, other than we just have to go and do it."

@MaxACohen