Feisty Galaxy Beats Revolution, Hope to Start One of Its Own

Tumbling out of Major League Soccer championship contention faster than a spent rocket, the Galaxy at least is not going down without a fight.

In fact, if it keeps playing as it did Friday night, that championship is not yet a lost cause.

In front of an appreciative crowd of 51,704 at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy won only its fifth game of the season, but in a manner that suggested the team should be 11-5 instead of 5-11 halfway through the MLS season.

On a night of all-out attack--at least by the Galaxy--Cobi Jones’ 79th-minute goal and Welton’s 86th-minute strike were enough to defeat the New England Revolution, 2-0. Both were classic goals.

Jones, who is back in top form, beat two defenders on the right, then passed the ball to Guillermo Jara, who surprised everyone by back-heeling it to Mauricio Cienfuegos on the left. The playmaker sent it back into the middle, and there was Jones to drive it into the net, finishing off the move he had started.

The goal, for some reason, infuriated Walter Zenga, the Revolution’s former Italian World Cup goalkeeper, who ran out to midfield to berate referee Ali Saheli. To no avail.

Adding insult to injury, Welton’s goal seven minutes later was a length-of-the-field play.

It originated with keeper Jorge Campos, who, perhaps confusing his holidays, was dressed entirely in pumpkin orange. His long throw found Welton alone on the left wing, with Cienfuegos to his right.

Just like that, thanks to Campos’ alertness, it was a two-on-two race. But Welton turned it into a one-man show. The Brazilian cut past his defender and, just as everyone was expecting him to pass to Cienfuegos, he fired a shot that zipped past Zenga and smacked into the back of the net.

The fan noise erupted. For more than an hour they had seen the Galaxy create scoring chance after scoring chance, only to be denied by shots that flashed either just wide, just high or saved by Zenga.

Allowed to play the way they most enjoy, the Galaxy moved the ball around the field with ease all evening, creating a kaleidoscope of entertaining patterns. But until the last dozen minutes the final touch eluded the attackers.

Danny Pena flashed a header wide right.

Jones fired high and later narrowly missed to the right.

Paul Caligiuri’s fine right-foot shot was saved by Zenga.

And so it went until the pressure finally became too much for New England and the dam burst. The loss dropped the Revolution to 10-6.

The outcome might have been different had New England’s “goal” early in the first half not been disallowed because of an offside. A crossing pass from Imad Baba to George was headed in, but the linesman had a flag raised and the play was nullified.

The offside ruling was harsh and the entire New England bench rose in protest, but the ruling stood.

The Galaxy’s play might well have impressed another team. The players of Mexican League champion Chivas of Guadalajara were at the Rose Bowl Friday night and will travel with the Galaxy to Chicago today.

The teams play a game at Soldier Field Sunday, with the match being televised live at 2 p.m. by Channel 52.