BY ADAM SERRANO

After putting together two of the best and most consistent seasons in MLS, the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas will battle in a Western Conference Final good enough to be an MLS Cup Final.

The Galaxy appears to have returned to its early season form after confidently beating the Seattle Sounders to return to the Conference Final for the second year in a row. FC Dallas defeated the defending champion Real Salt Lake and is now on the brink of making the MLS Cup Final for the first time in team history. The two teams are quite familiar with one another having faced off just three weeks ago.

"You come up against this just like playing a derby game during the year. It doesn’t matter where you are in the league or what position you are, these games are big games," said David Beckham. "It gave us a pretty good guideline to what we were going to come up against, but it’s obviously the playoffs so there’s a lot more on this game."

Here's a closer look at the Western Conference Final:

LOS ANGELES GALAXY vs. FC DALLAS

HEAD TO HEAD

LA Galaxy won the season series (May 20: Galaxy 1, FC Dallas 0; Oct. 24: Galaxy 2, FC Dallas 1)

WHEN

Sunday, 9:00PM PT, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes

KEY MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Dema Kovalenko vs. David Ferreira: 

This battle of strength against finesse will likely decide the match. Kovalenko will be expected to play the agitator once more in a similar fashion to the role that he played in the first leg against Seattle. Kovalenko will attempt to force Ferreira off the ball to prevent him from delivering the passes that could put the Galaxy on their heels.  FC Dallas Head Coach Schellas Hyndman admitted that it will be the referees job to reel in the physical play, which is Kovalenko's strength from playing too large a role. 

"It comes down the referees because the players can not take the game into their own hands," said Hyndman. "We're counting on it being a good game and if it tends to get physical then I'm sure it will go both ways and the officiating will take care of it."

Landon Donovan vs. Jackson Goncalves:  

The battle between the pair became cagey in the last time that these two club's met with Donovan shoving Jackson en route to the Galaxy's opening goal. Donovan is likely to play a larger role in the Galaxy attack than he did in the semifinals as he looks to exploit the right side of the Dallas defense. Stepping in for the injured Heath Pearce, Jackson adds pace to the right side of Dallas and will be expected to track back to catch up to the fleet-footed Donovan. 

Kevin Hartman vs. Donovan Ricketts: 

For all the glitz on the offensive side, the match will eventually besides by two of the top goalkeeper's in the league. Two of the candidates for the Goalkeeper of the Year, — an award that eventually went to Ricketts — the pair have routinely come up big to keep their club's in games. The 2010 Goalkeeper of the Year, Ricketts' plays a huge role leading the Galaxy's defense and using his pinpoint goal kick abilities to start attacks for the Galaxy. On the Dallas side expect Hartman to be eager to prove that he, not Ricketts should have been named the league's top shot stopper. With Galaxy forward Edson Buddle having returned to form, Hartman will need to be perfect to take Dallas to Cup Final.  

X-FACTOR

For Los Angeles, A.J. DeLaGarza remains an important factor in the defense. Against the Sounders, DeLaGarza used his physicality and speed to shut down Fredy Montero en route to victory. More of the same will be expected of DeLaGarza, who will be targeted by the larger Dallas attackers. While veteran defender Gregg Berhalter has been ruled healthy to play, head coach Bruce Arena has shown confidence in DeLaGarza to perform alongside Gonzalez, his college teammate.  

FC Dallas will need the counter attack and a definitive performance from the young Brek Shea. Shea was impressive in FCD's victory over Real Salt Lake filling in for the suspended Atiba Harris. Against Los Angeles, Shea will need to be effective on the counter attack along the flanks to open space for Ferreira in the center of the park. For FC Dallas to be successful, Shea or even Harris must connect with Ferreira to exploit gaps in the Galaxy defense. 

OUTLOOK

Both club's enter the match riding on a lot of momentum after a pair of confident victories and the first 25 minutes of the match will be decisive in determining a winner. Hyndman's men will need to score early to have the best chance to knock the Galaxy off their game and seize the early momentum. For the Galaxy, to return to the MLS Cup for the second time in two years, the club needs to weather the early storm and use the in-form David Beckham to pick their spots against the Dallas defense. In the end, it will be the team that is able to defend well and receive the most timely goalkeeping will book their ticket to Toronto as the odds on favorite to win the MLS Cup. 

"They play fast, they play hard, they’re athletic and they have good, talented players all over the field," said Donovan. "I just think it’s going to be a fast, really good game."

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