Toronto FC allows Galaxy fans to watch best team in MLS

The best reason to watch the Galaxy game in Carson this weekend (7:30 p.m. Spectrum SportsNet) is not to see L.A., plumbing new MLS depths, but to take in all-conquering, MLS-leading Toronto FC, already being talked about as the best team ever in MLS.

Toronto (17-3-8) became the first MLS team to qualify for the playoffs last weekend, with U.S. international Jozy Altidore scoring twice in a 4-0 rout of San Jose on the same day his girlfriend, tennis star Sloane Stephens, captured her first major title after winning the U.S. Open.

Game, set and match?

Winners of five consecutive games, undefeated in their past 10 and nine points ahead of the rest of the field, Toronto is eyeing a Supporters’ Shield as one of only two teams undefeated at home in MLS.

The class for Toronto — sorry, Michael Bradley — is provided by former Barcelona midfielder Victor Vazquez, who has a league-leading 15 assists. He also has six goals and registered a goal and an assist against the Earthquakes.

Former Juventus striker Sebastian Giovinco — last year’s MLS MVP — has 15 goals, good for fourth in MLS. And yeah, only MLS prejudice is keeping him out of the Italy squad.

Some of the sparkle may be off, though: Both may not travel to L.A. with injuries.

Galaxy dim

The 7-14-6 Galaxy, meanwhile, are mired in a run of one win in 11 games with no end in sight.

MLS is piling it on.

The Galaxy played Seattle last weekend, the hottest team in the Western Conference.

The Sounders’ come-from-behind 1-1 draw last weekend took Seattle’s undefeated streak to a club-record 12 games.

The Galaxy almost got a reprieve of sorts with a 3-0 win in their previous game against the Rapids, their first victory since June 21 when they also beat Colorado.

Now the Galaxy hover in ninth-place in the 11-team Western Conference, an advertisement for instituting relegation and promotion if there ever was one.

How bad are things beyond the stats?

The Galaxy are battling, never a good sign.

“I’m proud of the team and proud of the way they battled,” said Schmid after the Sounders game. “I though the team fought hard, which is something that we’ve been trying to get to. I thought our fighting spirit was good and thought we, at times, played some good soccer.

Battling. Some good soccer. But not good enough.

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Hello, Toronto.

Etc.

• The Galaxy mark Hispanic Heritage Night on Saturday with a free concert before the game featuring Guillermo Makar and Linea Roja.

• The 2017 MLS Roster Freeze takes effect at 2 p.m. Friday, meaning teams cannot change their 30-man rosters through MLS Cup.

• Tickets for the World Cup in Russia go on sale Friday, with prices starting at $105.

• The U.S. Women’s National Team plays Friday in Colorado against New Zealand (7 p.m. ESPN2) and again Tuesday (4:30 p.m. Fox Sports 1) in Cincinnati.

For more soccer news, read the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer.