Up next for Galaxy: Friday vs. Chicago

VS. CHICAGO

Time: 8 p.m.

On the air: TV: ESPN2; Radio: 1150 and 1330 (Spanish).

Where: Home Depot Center.

Records: Galaxy 10-6-11, Fire 10-6-11.

Record vs. Fire: 1-0.

Update: If there is a winner tonight, that team would clinch a place in the playoffs as long as Chivas USA does not lose at D.C. United on Saturday. So, even though the Fire’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco is out because of a hamstring injury and the Galaxy’s David Beckham might be limited by his inflamed right ankle, the game will have a real edge. “With three games remaining, this is an important match,” Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said, “not only for our playoff aspirations but within the two conferences.” The teams have identical records and each is second in its conference. The top two teams in the East and West have home-field advantage in the playoffs.

-- Grahame L. Jones