This One Somehow Goes the Wrong Way for Galaxy
Too much skill and too little luck.
That’s as good an explanation as any for the Galaxy’s suddenly slumping fortunes.
Either that or blame the front office for burdening a once lively and entertaining team with another slow, lumbering, virtually useless forward.
First Eduardo “El Tanque” Hurtado and now Carlos “El Anchor” Hermosillo. You’d think the Galaxy would learn.
Whatever the cause of Los Angeles’ woes, the effect was all too apparent Saturday night at the Rose Bowl, where 26,873 watched the Galaxy lose, 1-0, to defending Major League Soccer champion Washington D.C. United.
The only goal of a tedious and at times frustrating match was a shot that was turned into his own net by Galaxy defender Robin Fraser.
It was that kind of night for Los Angeles, which has lost three of its last four games and continues to squander the chance to wrap up the Western Conference title.
On a steamy night, the Galaxy was given an early gift by referee Esse Baharmast, who red-carded D.C. United defender Mario Gori in the 16th minute.
Gori, a player of limited skill and volatile temper, had aimed a two-footed tackle at the Galaxy’s Paul Caligiuri, and Baharmast, who had shown Gori a yellow card nine minutes earlier for a foul on Cobi Jones, this time tried a new color.
With a one-man advantage and the support of a sizable home crowd, the Galaxy should have been able to walk away with the three points. Instead, it walked off to the boos of its fans.
This is not the same team that carved up opponents earlier in the year. Suddenly, it has lost its way.
The game’s lone goal came in the 44th minute. Marco “El Diablo” Etcheverry pounced on a loose ball to the left of the Galaxy penalty area, sent a sharp pass across the face of the goal intended for Roy Lassiter and then watched in delight as Fraser stuck out a leg and deflected the ball into his net.
From that point on, D.C. United (18-5) frustrated the Galaxy (16-5). It defended in numbers and counter-attacked when the opportunity presented itself.
“When you’re on the road against L.A. and you have a player red-carded in the first 15 minutes, it changes the complexion of the game,” D.C. United Coach Bruce Arena said.
“We had to make some adjustments, tactically, and our objective was really getting to halftime at 0-0. Getting the goal changed the whole game around.”
The Galaxy tried to regain control of the match, but there was an air of desperation about its play. The fluid style of the early season has been replaced by an almost kick-and-rush approach.
Hermosillo seems like the proverbial square peg in the round hole. He does not look part of the team and, indeed, sometimes appears more of a hindrance than a help.
That said, the Mexican striker did manage to put the ball in the net for the first time in seven games, but the “goal” was ruled offside, a judgment that infuriated midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, who argued long and loud with the linesman.
“It don’t think this team is playing for him or not playing for him,” Galaxy Coach Octavio Zambrano said of Hermosillo, when asked why the striker had so much success in the Mexican League but hasn’t had any in MLS.
“I’m not so sure that this is a team that is going to play for one player. The reason why we have been successful is because our scoring opportunities have come from different players, and we are not going to change that because I think that is part of our strength.”
The Galaxy managed to create several scoring opportunities but could not find a way to beat D.C. United goalkeeper Scott Garlick.
The one time the ball did appear to cross the line--on a shot by Martin Machon off a pass from Jones--Garlick reached back and clawed the ball back into play.
Replays showed the ball had not crossed the line.
