Hernandez Bursts on Scene
It wasn’t Luis Hernandez’s entrance that was dramatic Saturday, it was his exit.
The celebrated Mexican striker made his Major League Soccer debut in front of a Rose Bowl crowd of 40,303, helped the Galaxy score two goals in a 2-1 victory over Washington D.C. United, then headed for the hospital.
He wasn’t alone. Hernandez shared the ride to St. Luke’s in Pasadena with Galaxy captain Robin Fraser. There, both had MRI tests. Hernandez has a sprained left shoulder, Fraser a severely sprained left ankle.
Hernandez will miss Wednesday night’s game at New England, but he was going to do that anyway to attend to his move from Monterrey, Mexico. Fraser also will miss the game against the Revolution.
The Galaxy’s victory kept the team unbeaten and improved its record to 6-0-5.
The first goal was a gift from D.C. United, its third own goal of the season, this one off the head of defender Carey Talley in the 35th minute when he was under intense pressure from Hernandez in a chase for a high ball lofted into the penalty area by Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos.
The second was a penalty kick netted by Greg Vanney in the 59th minute after Cobi Jones had been tripped by D.C. United defender Carlos Llamosa as he raced onto a pass from Hernandez.
The fact that Hernandez had a hand in both goals didn’t overly impress D.C. United defender Jeff Agoos.
“He really didn’t do a whole lot against us,” Agoos said. “I know what kind of player he is, he’s a quality player. I think it’s tough for him in his first game here. He needs to get used to the team. I think he’ll be good for the league and good for the Galaxy.”
What might not be so good is the way the defending league champion is reeling.
“That seems to be the way it’s going this season,” Agoos said. “We certainly didn’t get outplayed.
“All the success we’ve had over the past four years seems to be coming back to bite us. But we keep playing and we’ve been playing well. Other than that first game against L.A. at home [a 4-0 Galaxy victory at RFK Stadium], we’ve outplayed and outshot teams and we still haven’t come up with any points. It’s frustrating.”
Washington Coach Thomas Rongen has remained remarkably cool considering that D.C. has lost four in a row and languishes in last place in the Eastern Division with a 2-9-1 record.
Rongen still sees a bright future.
“We’ve got to just forget about these 12 games,” he said. “We’ve got 20 to play. Our season starts now. There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to turn this thing around. The spirit is still there.”
Judah Cooks lifted D.C. spirits briefly with a goal in the 75th minute, but it was too little, too late.
By then, Hernandez already had left the field, taken out after 72 minutes holding his left shoulder after falling on it awkwardly while challenging Llamosa for the ball.
“I feel a little pain,” he said. “It hurts when I move it. I hope it is nothing more than a sharp pain.”
Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid used Hernandez and Jones as his forwards, with Sebastien Vorbe, also making his first start, in midfield.
“Today he showed maybe 40 to 50 percent of what he can do,” Schmid said of Hernandez. “I think he’s going to show so much more in the future.”
Jones said it will take time for the new-look Galaxy to regain its cohesion.
“I think it was a lot easier than I expected. I think there was a bit of a connection there. I think it’s going to take quite some time for it to get where it can be. It’s definitely going to take another few more games for us to learn each other to the point where all of us will be satisfied.
“I think the fact that we did so well not knowing each other shows us just how far we can go.”
Rongen knows just how far the Galaxy should go with Hernandez in the lineup.
“He’ll make L.A. certainly the team to beat this year,” he said. “ There are no excuses for them, I think.”
Other MLS Games
Tony Meola extended his MLS-record shutout streak to 615 minutes as visiting Kansas City (9-0-2) beat San Jose, 2-0. . . . Wolde Harris scored his fourth goal in as many games and New England shut down host Chicago in a 1-0 victory. . . . Diego Serna and Roy Lassiter scored six minutes apart in the first half to lead Miami to a 2-0 victory over visiting Colorado. . . . Petter Villegas scored in the sixth minute of overtime to give New York-New Jersey a 3-2 victory over visiting Tampa Bay. Adolfo Valencia scored in the 58th and 88th minutes as the MetroStars rallied from a 2-0 deficit. . . . Jeff Cunningham assisted on both of Columbus’ goals and the host Crew beat Dallas, 2-1, to end a two-game losing streak.
