Landon Donovan said the LA Galaxy were unlikely to sit back and protect their slim lead in the second leg of their MLS playoff series with the Colorado Rapids next week.
Giovani dos Santos' deflected header was enough to give the Galaxy a 1-0 win in their home leg on Sunday, a key goal considering that Colorado allowed seven fewere goals than any other MLS team this season.
But Donovan said that the Galaxy were likely to look for an away goal in the second leg rather than try to advance 1-0 on aggregate.
"We had two objectives this week, that was to win and not get scored on, so we achieved both of those," Donovan told ESPN. "We wanted probably 2- or 3-0 ideally, but no we've got a chance to go to Colorado and advance. If we don't get scored on we advance so we're in good shape, not great shape, and we're going to go there and try to get it done.
"Throughout the year they haven't scored a ton of goals but they also don't give up goals. If we can find a way to score it really puts them under a lot of pressure. We're not a team that's built to sit and defend so we'll try to strike a good balance, but either way, if it has to be 0-0, then it has to be 0-0. We want to try to find a way to advance."
But Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni remained confident and suggested the Galaxy would find it difficult in the altitude and cold weather of Colorado next Sunday.
"I think we're going back home to a place where we've been very good this year," Mastroeni said. "Like our chances at getting a goal and then [again] in the waning minutes or going into overtime at altitude where teams struggle.
"We feel like this is going to be no different, and we're going to put forth a great performance in front of our home fans. Hopefully 9 at night, hopefully 30 degrees, and give them everything we've got."
Dos Santos was perhaps fortunate to be credited with the goal as his shot took a big deflection off of the head of defender Axel Sjoberg, but he said his team deserved to travel to Colorado with the advantage.
"I think we created a lot of chances today," Dos Santos said. "Everyone wanted the ball today, and I think at the end of the day we deserved that goal. It was difficult because they are the best defensive team in the MLS, so I think we are happy to win the game.
"I think Jelle [Van Damme] made an excellent play and he crossed me and I tried just to put my head on it and it went in, so I'm happy for that."