Galaxy’s Luck Finally Runs Out
Draped behind one of the nets at Spartan Stadium Saturday night a hand-painted sign read simply: “Hey MLS, No Shootout.”
No such luck.
For the third time in as many games this Major League Soccer season, the Galaxy was unable to secure a victory in regulation. For the third time, it was forced into the lottery of a shootout.
And this time it lost.
The Clash prevailed, 4-2, in the shootout after the teams had played to a 1-1 tie in regulation in front of a half-frozen throng of 12,017. Former Galaxy goalkeeper David Kramer was the difference, saving shootout attempts by Daniel Hernandez and Clint Mathis.
The Clash deserved the win. With the Salvadoran duo of Ronald Cerritos and Raul Diaz Arce sparking the attack and impressive newcomer Mauricio Wright of Costa Rica anchoring the defense, it played the more adventurous and more intelligent soccer.
It was only because Mathis managed a goal with 4:32 remaining on a bitterly cold evening that the game even went to the shootout.
Joe Franchino started the move on the left wing, playing the ball into Mauricio Cienfuegos in front of the San Jose net. Cienfuegos played it back to Mathis, whose low shot from about 18 yards beat Kramer to tie the score.
Until then, the Galaxy’s offense had been anemic. Mathis’ goal was only the team’s second of the season in 270 minutes. The midfield, as much as the forward line, must bear the blame.
The Galaxy got a scare in the sixth minute when Cobi Jones appeared to be seriously hurt in a collision with Kramer. Welton directed a through ball down the middle to Jones, who took a shot that Kramer blocked before clattering into the Galaxy forward’s extended right leg.
Jones crumpled to the ground, clutching his right knee. He was helped off the field but returned after treatment on the sideline.
Two minutes later, the Clash took the lead.
U.S. national team winger Eddie Lewis, the former UCLA Bruin whose MLS star is rapidly rising, beat the Galaxy defense on the left wing and took the ball to the end line before hooking it back into the goal area to Diaz Arce.
Diaz Arce (57 goals in 85 MLS games) struck the ball first with the outside of his right foot, sending it spinning into the back of the net just inside the right post. It was the first goal of the season for the MLS’ second-leading goal scorer of all time.
The Clash created several other scoring opportunities in the first half but had to be content with taking a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
Whistle-happy referee Noel Kenny made the second 45 minutes a disjointed and far less enjoyable affair. Having dished out three yellow cards to Galaxy players in the first half, he found reason to hand out another three to Clash players in the second.
Two of them went to San Jose midfielder Braeden Cloutier, the second coming in the 75th minute and causing his expulsion. But even with only 10 men to beat, the Galaxy struggled to conjure up a goal.
And when it finally arrived, it was not enough.
The Clash’s victory put it over .500 for the first time since the opening game of the 1997 season. That’s how bad San Jose has been for the last two years. Finally, its fortunes seem to be improving.
The Galaxy might be heading the other way.
