Galaxy Can Thank Tank for First Win

Remember the Galaxy, the alleged cream of Major League Soccer, the star-glutted side that was supposed to ride the ballistic right foot of Eduardo (The Tank) Hurtado into the league’s championship final for the second time in as many years?

For 330 comatose minutes of aimless meandering on the grass this season, the Galaxy couldn’t. The Galaxy’s record after three games: 0-3. Hurtado’s goal production after three games: zero. Hurtado’s shot production after three games: one.

Sixty minutes into its fourth game of 1997 Friday night, the Galaxy remained listless and clueless--and behind on the scoreboard, trailing the Colorado Rapids by a goal--before Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos reintroduced Hurtado to the ball and Hurtado reintroduced the ball to the back of the net.

Hurtado’s equalizer, a blast from just inside the penalty area, triggered a Galaxy rally that produced the team’s first victory of the season, a 2-1 triumph before an announced crowd of 10,205 at the Rose Bowl.

It had been a periodically surly crowd before then, booing the Galaxy off the field at intermission after a first half that saw the Galaxy squander four prime scoring opportunities.

The jeers had been well deserved too, driven away for good only after Cienfuegos dribbled along the goal line in the 67th minute and passed back to to an unmarked Welton for the winning goal.

Galaxy Coach Lothar Osiander’s postgame assessment of Friday’s victory/reprieve?

“It is better to win than it is to lose--that is what I have been thinking all day and for the last four games,” Osiander deadpanned.

“Today was better than the last time. And the last time was better than the time before that. Hopefully, we are growing.”

Goals are essential to a soccer team’s growth patterns, and for the season’s first 330 minutes, the Galaxy had but three of them--one on a penalty kick. Hurtado, who led the Galaxy in goals with 21 in 1996, was not only scoreless in 1997, he was nearly shotless--his lone attempt on goal coming a season-opening shootout loss to Washington DC United on March 29.

Hurtado squandered a first-half opportunity on a give-and-go with Cienfuegos in the 41st minute, latching onto Cienfuegos’ pass at the top of the box but shanking his shot wide of the left post.

Nineteen minutes later, Cienfuegos sent a long feed to Hurtado, who was planted just outside the penalty area. Hurtado freed himself from Colorado defender Tahj Jakins and pumped the ball into the net, erasing a 1-0 deficit.

Colorado (1-3) had scored the go-ahead goal on a midfield turnover by the Galaxy and a quick counter, resulting in a seven-yard strike inside the right post by midfielder Chris Henderson in the 49th minute.

At that point, the consensus team to beat in MLS in ’97 looked about to be beaten for the fourth consecutive time before the Galaxy remembered Page One, Chapter One of the Osiander playbook:

1--Get the ball to Hurtado.

2--Shoot, Tank, shoot.

“I think he snapped out of his doldrums tonight,” Osiander said of Hurtado. “His eyes are shining again.”