Zambrano’s Galaxy Wins Fourth in Row
Perhaps the Galaxy should consider ending its search for a coach right now. After all, what could a newcomer possibly do that Octavio Zambrano has not done?
On Friday night, before a Cotton Bowl crowd of 13,136, the Galaxy recorded its fourth victory in a row and its second shutout of the week, blanking the Burn, 3-0, at Dallas.
Two goals by Eduardo Hurtado and one by Mauricio Cienfuegos were enough to improve the team’s record to 8-11 and put it in position to challenge for third place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.
More important, it gave Zambrano, who took charge June 11 after Lothar Osiander was fired, a 5-2 mark as interim coach. Under the 39-year-old Ecuadorean, who favors an all-out attacking style, the Galaxy has outscored its opponents, 19-7.
But it was another Ecuadorean, “El Tanque” Hurtado who was the star Friday night. His first goal, the Galaxy’s second of the night, will definitely make the season’s highlight film.
It originated in the Galaxy penalty area, where goalkeeper Jorge Campos snagged a dangerous cross by Damian, knocked the ball down and then took off on an astonishing 50-yard run.
Nearing the halfway line, Campos, dressed in the colors of a persimmon, passed the ball ahead to Hurtado, who took it an additional 40 yards before firing a low shot that snuck into the net under the grasping hands of Dallas goalkeeper Mark Dodd.
Compared to that extraordinary goal in the 66th minute, Cienfuegos’ penalty-kick goal in the 57th minute after Cobi Jones had been fouled by Jason Kreis, and Hurtado’s second strike, in the 77th minute, were commonplace.
Zambrano made three changes to the team that had routed the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars, 4-0, at Giants Stadium on Sunday.
Hurtado returned to the starting lineup in place of Welton and was paired up front with Harut Karapetyan. Campos replaced Kevin Hartman in the nets and Danny Pena replaced the injured Chris Armas in midfield.
The Galaxy dominated the first 45 minutes, taking more than twice as many shots as the Burn.
The closest it came to scoring, however, was in the 35th minute when Hurtado broke free up the middle, then passed the ball to Karapetyan on his left. Karapetyan, who had scored twice against the MetroStars, blasted a shot that beat Dodd but slammed into the right post.
The ball rebounded to Jones, but Dodd reacted quickly to smother his follow-up shot.
The Galaxy appeared to be unaffected by the conditions. The game-time temperature was 97 degrees, but it was the Burn that seemed to be slowed by the heat.
Dallas, which had won its previous four games, had the chance to take the Western Conference lead away from the Kansas City Wizards with a victory. Instead, the Burn fell to 12-10 and now finds itself looking nervously over its shoulder at the improving Galaxy.
“I’m very proud of the team’s performance tonight,” Zambrano said. “We had good concentration, intensity and the desire to win.”
The Galaxy gained three points for the victory, leaving it with 22 points, nine behind first-place Kansas City and five ahead of fifth-place San Jose. The top four teams in each conference make the playoffs.
Hurtado’s first multi-goal game of the season came despite the fact that he still does not look settled in the lineup, frequently steering passes astray or reacting late to teammates’ moves.
Still, he seems to be rediscovering the goal-scoring touch that made him the league’s third-leading scorer last season.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to put the bad streak behind me,” said Hurtado, whose goals were only his third and fourth of the season. “I’m very happy right now.”
Other MLS Games
Washington, the defending MLS champion, was held to a 1-1 tie against Columbus before 18,140 at RFK Stadium, but won the resultant shootout to improve to a league-best 14-6. Pete Marino scored in the 76th minute for the Crew (8-11), but Marco Etcheverry tied the score in the 89th minute for D.C. United. . . . In a 2-1 Colorado victory, Steve Trittshuh gave the Rapids (10-11) the lead over San Jose in the second minute, but Chris Sullivan tied it for the Clash (7-15) six minutes later. David Patino got the game winner in the 41st minute before 11,003 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.
