MLS CUP REPORT
FIRST HALF
The Fast Track
Impact player: Washington D.C. United forward Roy Lassiter had but one assist in the half, but his presence was felt all over the field, from the collision that knocked Galaxy defender Robin Fraser out in the seventh minute, to his pressure on Kevin Hartman which spooked the Galaxy goalkeeper into whiffing on a clear-out attempt, resulting in a United goal just before the break.
Missed opportunity: At the 32nd minute, Galaxy defender Greg Vanney booted a corner kick from the left side that Danny Pena headed into the left post. The ball ricocheted out, and in the ensuing scramble, an off-balance Carlos Hermosillo got a shot off that was cleared by United midfielder Richie Williams. A goal would have tied the score at 1-1.
Missing in action: Mauricio Cienfuegos, the Galaxy’s playmaking midfielder, had fewer than usual touches after being shadowed and shut down by United midfielder Richie Williams.
Rough stuff: It took only seven minutes for the bigger, more physical United to let the Galaxy know it was in for a bruising game. That’s when Galaxy team captain Robin Fraser and United forward Roy Lassiter got tangled up going for the ball and Fraser landed awkwardly and stayed down on the turf for four minutes before walking off the field under his own power. The initial diagnosis was a broken left collarbone and without Fraser, the MLS defender of the year, the Galaxy found themselves in a 2-0 hole at the half.
Between the posts: With the sun in his eyes, Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman endured seven shots, plus a knee to the head from United forward Jaime Moreno on a spectacular punch-out save. But five minutes after the knee to the noggin, a disoriented Hartman whiffed trying to kick out a free ball and Ben Olsen scored to make it 2-0.
The Quote I: “We were faced with every dilemma you could possibly think of in the first half--losing our captain and two goals.”--Galaxy defender Paul Caligiuri
SECOND HALF
The Fast Track
Impact player: United’s Richie Williams intensified his hounding of the Galaxy’s Mauricio Cienfuegos, continuing to limit the midfielder’s playmaking possibilities. Williams played well enough to be the most valuable player.
Missed opportunity: Galaxy forward Cobi Jones sprinted ahead of the field on a potential breakaway score at the 57th minute. But a convergence of United goalkeeper Tom Presthus and defender Carlos Llamosa broke up the attempt and the ball skipped harmlessly away.
Missing in action: More of the same for the Galaxy’s Cienfuegos, who was marked masterfully by United’s Williams.
Rough stuff: In the match’s closing moments, Galaxy midfielder Roy Myers was called for a foul near the United bench, prompting Coach Thomas Rongen to jump off the bench and into Myers’ face. No foul was called on Rongen.
Between the posts: While Hartman settled down in the second half, it was Presthus who played more like the MLS goalkeeper of the year, finishing with the shutout.
The Quote II: “Our team is a solid team all around and no one player is going to make that much of a difference. Those kinds of things happen--the ball gets bouncing around the box and someone gets a toe on it and the next thing you know you’re down 1-0.”--Robin Fraser
