Galaxy Starts Out a Loser
Welcome to Major League Soccer, Martin Machon.
Welcome to a league where a team can dominate a game for 90 minutes, completely outplay its opponent and then lose on the contrived and artificial notion that is the shootout.
That’s what the Galaxy did Saturday night in front of a disbelieving crowd of 53,147 at the Rose Bowl, losing, 3-2, to Washington D.C. United after the teams had played to a scoreless tie in regulation.
And it was Machon, the Galaxy’s Guatemalan national team star, who had to suffer the season-opening loss the most.
Sent in by Coach Lothar Osiander to take the kick that would tie the score if he made it or give D.C. United the victory if he missed, Machon saw his shot sail over the crossbar. He immediately sank to his knees on the turf, holding his head in his hands in despair.
It was a cruel introduction to MLS and a sight that summed up the Galaxy’s evening of frustration.
Playing a fast-paced and swift-passing brand of soccer, filled with intricate patterns and ever-changing moves, the Galaxy was technically head and shoulders above D.C. United.
But Washington had a secret weapon. The defending MLS champions had come up with a unique way to keep the Galaxy at bay. It put Garlick in the net.
Making his first MLS start, goalkeeper Scott Garlick, a three-year starter at the University of San Diego, did not have too many saves to make, but his presence alone seemed to drive away the ball. Galaxy shots came from all angles, but none found the target.
Machon blasted the ball just over the bar in the eighth minute. Chris Armas fired just wide of the right post in the 20th minute. An Eduardo Hurtado shot off a Mauricio Cienfuegos pass was saved by Garlick in the 26th minute. Harut Karapetyan rocketed a shot inches high in the 34th minute. Cobi Jones fired fractionally wide of the left post in the 37th minute.
At the other end, Washington managed only a couple of scoring opportunities, most notably a shot by Raul Diaz Arce in the 25th minute that was high.
And so the half ended scoreless.
It also ended with Eddie Pope no longer on the field. The U.S. national team defender, who had been taken out of the U.S. team’s World Cup qualifying game in the second half against Costa Rica last Sunday complaining of dizziness, was substituted in the 23rd minute.
Pope had suffered a scratched right eye and was having vision problems. He was taken to hospital for tests to determine the extent of the injury.
The second 45 minutes was not much different from the first. The Galaxy continued to press the attack and D.C. United continued to defend in numbers.
As the minutes ticked by, it became increasingly obvious that “El Tanque” Hurtado and his teammates were not going to be able to batter down the door.
“We will need a few weeks to get into our scoring mode,” Osiander said. “We had some good approaches, but then we abandoned team play. I’m not real happy with the midfield [in its support of the forwards]. We need to work on combination plays in midfield.
“We won’t start 12-0 this year.”
No, but on the evidence of the play of newcomers Machon and Danny Pena, who started, and Steve Jolley, a first-round draft pick from William & Mary, and Brazilian forward Welton, who came on in the second half, the Galaxy will not be losing too many games once it improves its on-field communication.
D.C. United Coach Bruce Arena recognized the potential quality of the Los Angeles team.
“I’d be surprised if they’re not at the top by the end [of the season],” he said. “They certainly pushed hard, especially in the second half.”
The last time the teams met was in MLS Cup ‘96, the league championship game, last October. Then, the goals flowed like the rain as D.C. United won, 3-2, in a downpour at Foxboro Stadium.
On Saturday, in the Arroyo Seco, the goals dried up.
“We need a bit more time to gel,” Machon said. “In two or three matches, the Galaxy should be winning consistently. It won’t be long.”
