Cienfuegos’ Best Efforts Are in Vain

Mauricio Cienfuegos did everything he could Saturday night to show why, when the Galaxy gets rid of one or two of its foreign players in the days or weeks ahead, he will not be one of them.

Cienfuegos was everywhere, darting this way and that, dribbling, feinting, setting up one scoring opportunity after another against the Dallas Burn at the Rose Bowl.

The El Salvador national team midfielder even scored a goal, making no mistake with a penalty kick in the 72nd minute that tied the score, 1-1, only two minutes after Dallas had taken the lead.

But in the end it took a shootout to separate the teams, the Galaxy losing, 4-1, to the dismay of 15,247 fans, most of whom made their displeasure known by booing loudly.

The loss dropped Los Angeles’ Major league Soccer record to 1-4 and left it firmly entrenched in last place in the Western Conference. Dallas evened its record at 3-3.

The Galaxy had more than double the number of shots on goal than the Burn, which was playing its third game in seven days. But the team’s inability to put the ball in the net was astonishing and was made glaringly evident in the shootout.

Peter Hattrup scored for the Burn. Welton’s shot went wide of the right post for the Galaxy, his third such miss in the game.

Tom Soehn scored for the Burn. Greg Vanney’s effort for the Galaxy was deflected wide of the left post by goalkeeper Mark Dodd.

Mark Santel scored for the Burn. The Galaxy’s John Jones was tripped by Dodd and scored on the resultant penalty kick.

That made it 3-1 in the Burn’s favor. And when Gerell Elliott put a penalty kick past Galaxy keeper David Kramer after referee Ted Covaciu-woods had incorrectly ruled that Kramer had fouled Elliott on his shootout attempt, it was all over.

After a 12-0 start last season, the Galaxy is struggling. On Saturday, it played an entertaining brand of soccer, dominating the game, in fact. But it could not finish the chances it created.

Now, the front office is looking for options.

Three new players, including two from overseas, trained with the team Friday. One of them is Carlos Wanchope from Costa Rica, the brother of Costa Rican national team star Paulo Wanchope, who recently was signed by Derby County in England’s Premier League after being pursued by the Galaxy. Another is a star from Colombia whose name is being kept under wraps.

If the Galaxy is interested in one or both of them--and it is--some players are going to be sent packing. One scenario is that 1996 leading scorer Eduardo Hurtado will be heading east. By ridding itself of his salary, possibly by trading him to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, the Galaxy would be free to activate former U.S. national team defender Paul Caligiuri.

The move could be made before the Galaxy’s next home game, May 18 against the San Jose Clash.

It is clear that Coach Lothar Osiander has to do something. The Galaxy is not playing badly, it is just not getting the results.

Dallas absorbed pressure from the Galaxy for 70 scoreless minutes, then struck quickly to take the lead. A crossing pass from Soehn eluded the Galaxy defenders and the ball reached Elliott, unmarked with only Kramer to beat. He made no mistake.

Two minutes later, Cienfuegos tied it up after Danny Pena had been knocked flat by a flying body block from Dallas defender Eric Dade.

But on a night of missed chances, one goal was never going to be enough.

“This one hurts,” Osiander said.

Is it time for a change?

“Not for the players, but for me, perhaps.”

Don’t count on it. It will be players, not coaches, who will be leaving.