Best Shots Follow Galaxy’s Win
Even the dullest Major League Soccer games--and Sunday’s Galaxy-Dallas Burn encounter at the Rose Bowl fits that category--have some redeeming quality.
This time, what the players couldn’t provide the 27,034 fans in entertainment, the coaches provided the media in comment.
For the record, before the game is completely banished from memory, the Galaxy prevailed, 3-2, in a shootout after the teams had played to a 0-0 tie in regulation.
After that, the gloves came off.
Galaxy Coach Octavio Zambrano’s blasted the defensive mentality that MLS teams seem to be adopting. Dave Dir, his Burn counterpart, took a few shots at Zambrano, saying he plays it just as defensively as the rest.
First, Zambrano.
“It’s tough to finish [score] against a team that plays defensively so much,” he said. “Unless teams come out to play us on equal terms, I think low-scoring games are going to be the norm.
“Defending is the priority now in this league. That’s a fact. I think it’s different than years past when teams wanted to play wide-open soccer. Now, most teams are just falling back and defending. That’s just the way it is, unfortunately.”
Call it the legacy of the Chicago Fire, which last season won the MLS title by concentrating on building a strong defense.
“I don’t want to say anything like that,” Zambrano said, “otherwise I’m persona non grata in Chicago.”
Dir had no hesitation about becoming persona non grata in Pasadena.
“I think that whenever Octavio loses, he talks about that same thing,” the Dallas coach said. “And when he wins, he’s fine with packing it in [on defense] and counter-attacking.
“In my opinion--and it’s just mine, I’m not God’s gift to soccer--they [the Galaxy] pack it in more than anybody. They make every attempt to win the ball from behind you, when your player’s in good position, a lot of things come with the elbows up, and they just look to spring their guys with speed.
“We like to play possession, keep the ball, knock the ball around and create good attacking chances. And I think we did that tonight.”
That wasn’t the fans’ view. They booed the teams off the field at halftime and grumbled afterward.
“I didn’t enjoy it myself,” Zambrano admitted.
Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman earned the team its lone point for the shootout win, saving attempts by Brian Haynes and Temoc Suarez and forcing Oscar Pareja to send his shot against the right post.
Cobi Jones, Clint Mathis and Greg Vanney scored for the Galaxy, with Welton missing wide left and Daniel Hernandez seeing his shot saved.
