Galaxy Has Work to Do Before All-Star Break
It’s only the 17th game of a 32-game schedule, and is against a nonconference opponent with an 8-8 record, but the Galaxy’s game against the New England Revolution today could be its most important of the season.
After a dismal start, the Galaxy has won five of seven to improve to 9-7, planting itself firmly in fourth place in the Western Conference with 21 points. The Galaxy is seven points ahead of fifth-place San Jose and four behind Dallas and Chicago, which are tied for second.
But a home loss to Miami last week and a goal Coach Sigi Schmid set when he took over the team in April give today’s game more importance than it ordinarily would have.
“The one goal I had was to get to 24 points before the All-Star break, so it’s important from that standpoint,” said Schmid, whose team would earn three points for a victory in regulation. “It’s also important in that we have to determine if last week’s game was a speed bump or indicative of how we’re going to play.”
Regardless of what happens today, there’s no question the Galaxy’s standing halfway through the 1999 season is a far cry from the 16-game mark of 1998.
A year ago, Los Angeles was cruising with a 14-2 record and 40 points, on its way to a 24-8 record. The Galaxy set an MLS record with 85 goals and gave up a league-low 44 goals.
“The only difference this year is we’re not in first place and we don’t have as many goals,” defender Paul Caliguiri said. “We still have the top defense in the league [13 goals allowed]. And we’re still one of the teams to beat in this league.
“It’s odd that a third- or fourth-place team is still looked at as one of the top teams, but that’s how most opponents look at us.”
And the defense isn’t the only reason for the Galaxy to be optimistic about the rest of the season, which stops for 13 days after today for next weekend’s All-Star game.
The addition of players like Roy Meyers and Simon Elliott, and the development of second-year player Clint Mathis have made the Galaxy a deeper team than it was at the beginning of the season.
“The team has made good strides since I’ve gotten here,” Schmid said. “The camaraderie and spirit are good right now.
“I expect the second half to be like the [last 11 games, in which the Galaxy is 7-4].”
Said Cobi Jones: “I think we’re in great standing right now. We’re sitting pretty good in the standings and we’re on an upswing.”
And there are two other points in the Galaxy’s favor.
The Galaxy is 7-2 all time against New England and the Galaxy’s best second half, 11-5, came after its worst first half in team history, 5-11, in 1997.
