Galaxy’s Reign Ends, and Chivas Gets In
The Galaxy’s reign as Major League Soccer champion came to an unceremonious but unsurprising end Saturday night when it lost, 2-1, at FC Dallas, ensuring that it would not reach the playoffs for the first time in the league’s 11-year history.
Only one team before -- D.C. United in 2001 -- had won the MLS title then failed to reach the playoffs the next year. The Galaxy’s 2-8-1 start in 2006 and its subsequent inconsistent play meant that the team was always a longshot to defend its championship.
Chivas USA also lost Saturday, falling, 2-1, at the Kansas City Wizards, but qualified for the playoffs in only its second season because Real Salt Lake’s 1-1 tie at the Houston Dynamo means Chivas can finish no worse than fourth in the Western Conference.
Dallas’ victory, on goals in the 30th minute by former Galaxy standout Carlos Ruiz and two minutes into the second half by Kenny Cooper, clinched the conference title for Coach Colin Clarke’s team and earned it home-field advantage through to the Nov. 12 MLS final, which Dallas (16-11-4) will host.
Landon Donovan scored in the 71st minute for the Galaxy (10-15-6) at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. His 10th goal of the season came off a Chris Albright cross.
Chivas USA was always chasing the game at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Wizards (10-13-8) were a step faster and took full advantage of the injury-caused absence of such key Chivas players as Ante Razov and Francisco “Paco” Palencia.
Dave Van Den Bergh put Kansas City ahead in the 50th minute when he headed in a free kick by Jose Burciaga Jr., but Chivas (10-9-12) tied the score when Claudio Suarez made a penalty kick in the 71st minute after Jonathon Bornstein had been tripped by Nick Garcia.
The tie did not last long, with the Wizards being awarded a penalty kick after Jason Hernandez tripped Kansas City forward Josh Wolff three minutes later. Burciaga scored from the spot.
If Chivas finishes fourth, it will play Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, which is a two-game series. If it finishes third, it will play Houston.
“It’s a big step for the club,” Chivas Coach Bob Bradley said of reaching the playoffs after the team had won only four games in its inaugural season. “We’re disappointed that we didn’t take a point in this game, or three points, but it’s a reward for a year of good work.”
With only one week remaining in the regular season, there are two playoff places still to be decided.
In the West, Real Salt Lake can qualify only if the Colorado Rapids lose at Houston on Saturday and Real defeats Chivas USA on Sunday. Otherwise, Colorado goes through.
In the Eastern Conference, Kansas City needs only a tie on the road against the New York Red Bulls to qualify, while the Red Bulls, who tied, 1-1, at the Rapids on Saturday night, must win to advance.
In other games Saturday, the New England Revolution defeated D.C. United, 2-1, behind goals by Clint Dempsey and Taylor Twellman, and the Columbus Crew routed the Chicago Fire, 4-1, with former Galaxy player Joseph Ngwenya getting a goal and two assists.
