Galaxy Ties El Salvador in ‘Road’ Game
Thursday night served as a reminder for the Galaxy, a pleasant glimpse of what can be if every game were an exhibition and players didn’t sit out with injuries or national-team commitments.
In what amounted to a “road” game at the Rose Bowl in front of 21,363 fans, all of whom seemed to cheer for El Salvador, the Galaxy took the lead early, lost it, then held on for a 1-1 tie.
But while the game does not count in the records or anywhere else, the Galaxy saw some old faces it may have forgotten, a familiar one in a the wrong uniform, and few new ones who will be looked on to produce as the team prepares for the second half of the season.
Chris Armas was in the midfielder spot usually filled by Mauricio Cienfuegos, who was wearing the blue of El Salvador and was for one night the worry of Galaxy defenders.
Armas looked good at times, and at other times looked like a player returning from a seven-game layoff because of a strained hamstring. But no one expects him to be Cienfuegos, just a complement and then an adequate replacement when Cienfuegos plays for the national team again in World Cup qualifying in the fall.
“It was scary playing against Mauricio,” Galaxy Coach Lothar Osiander said. “You can really see he is a big part of our game. But I thought Armas did adequately, and I expect him to get even better as he gets healthier.”
Forward Jose Vasquez, who had two goals and an assist in the Galaxy’s first three games before a broken ankle sidelined him, scored in the 21st minute. It was his first point since returning June 26 at Colorado, and this was the first game that Vasquez played with the aggressiveness that marked his play early in the season.
Vasquez’s header from five yards out gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead, and was set up by a cross from midfielder Cobi Jones, another rediscovered face. Jones had not been on the scoring sheet since June 6 when he scored against New England.
Goalkeeper David Kramer, filling in for Jorge Campos while Campos is away with the Mexican Olympic team, made a few spectacular saves including one in the 14th minute when Marlon Medrano broke free. But Kramer also came out a bit premature against William Renderos when he assisted on Jose Escobar’s tying goal in the 35th minute. Kramer played solid with a few sketchy moments, much like Campos, who just does it in brighter clothes.
Lastly, Eduardo Hurtado returned after missing the last two games while playing with Ecuador’s national team. Hurtado did not score, but he was on the field, and for the Galaxy that is enough.
MLS Notes
Two little-known professional soccer leagues, the United System of Independent Soccer League and the A-League, announced they will merge into one 24-team league that will be a “second division” to the Major League Soccer.
