And in the Nightcap, It’s Galaxy a Shootout Winner

Jorge Campos worked overtime on Sunday, juggling three jobs in three hours as he played for town and country.

First, there was Jorge Campos, goalkeeper for the Mexican national team.

Then, there was Jorge Campos, goalkeeper for the undefeated Los Angeles Galaxy.

Finally, there was Jorge Campos, striker for the now 11-0 Galaxy courtesy of a 3-2 victory in a shootout over the Tampa Bay Mutiny before 92,216 highly amused and only mildly confused onlookers at the Rose Bowl.

“It was very difficult,” Campos said of the unprecedented double. “I’m very tired.”

It was the Galaxy’s second shootout victory, coming after the teams played to a 2-2 tie in regulation. In goal for the Galaxy for the roll-of-the-dice shootout was David Kramer, who replaced Campos for the final 17 minutes of regulation when Campos moved forward.

Kramer was sensational in the shootout--which the Galaxy won, 4-2--making saves on two of the Mutiny’s first three shots. Scoring for the Galaxy were Jorge Salcedo, Robin Fraser, Greg Zanney and Mauricio Cienfuegos.

Campos had no problem with Kramer taking the shootout, saying: “I think he is the best. Kramer is a very good keeper. In the shootout he is the best. I see [it] in training every day.”

If not for defender Fraser’s first goal of the season--a 22-yard unassisted blast from just outside the box in the 85th minute--the shootout never would have been an issue and the Mutiny (8-4) could have made the claim of being the first to knock off the Galaxy.

Fraser, who pushed forward in a late effort to score, inexplicably was given plenty of room and time to maneuver down the middle.

“I’m as amazed as you are,” he said. “I took a touch and couldn’t believe how much time I had. I’ve already been teased about how long it took for me to line up the shot.”

Said Mutiny Coach Thomas Rongen: “You need to learn to defend leads from 80 minutes on. It’s disappointing because we worked extremely hard to be successful.”

Fraser is the 12th Galaxy player on the 22-man roster to score. Although Fraser, also a member of the U.S. national team, did not play in the first game, he was somewhat drained from sitting outside in the hot sun on the bench for two hours. Galaxy teammate Cobi Jones played in the first game for the United States, but did not play in the second.

Tampa Bay’s Roy Lassiter, who had a goal and an assist against the Galaxy, could have joined Campos in the singular accomplishment of playing in both games, but he remained on the bench with Fraser in the opener.

Campos, although tired, was nonchalant about it being a great day to play 180 minutes, saying he used to play two, three games a day as a youngster growing up in Acapulco.

His Galaxy teammates were impressed.

“It was a very big deal,” Fraser said. “If you look at him now, I’m sure he’s exhausted.”

Said defender Dan Calichman: “Campos didn’t have to play. He wanted to play with the Galaxy and that was uplifting for the team.”

The Galaxy needed something, and so did the crowd, most of which stayed for the second game. Galaxy forward Eduardo Hurtado’s goal in the 40th minute--coming with Cle Kooiman doing some serious hang time on his jersey--to pull the Galaxy to a 1-1 tie was one of the few shining non-Campos moments.

Galaxy Coach Lothar Osiander believed his team was down about the United States’ 2-2 tie and that it carried over, although the players vehemently disagreed. “I wasn’t at all happy with the mental attitude of the team,” Osiander said.

But the year of striking dangerously continues for the Galaxy.

“You also create, invent your own luck,” Osiander said. “To be 11-0 in any sport, you have to have a certain amount of luck.”