Califf Returns a Hero
Medals? Danny Califf don’t need no stinkin’ medals.
The MLS Cup 2000 trophy would be just fine, though.
Califf, one of three Olympians on the Galaxy roster who just missed out on an Olympic medal at the Sydney Games, got the Galaxy that much closer to Major League Soccer’s title match Tuesday night.
The rookie defender’s “golden goal” header off a Cobi Jones corner kick in the third minute of sudden-death overtime gave the Galaxy a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards in Game 2 of the Western semifinal series before 20,849 at the Rose Bowl.
“It was an incredible way to come back to the Galaxy, in the playoffs,” said Califf, the Galaxy rookie of the year. “I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t start but I’m really happy that I got to play and it was a fairy-tale ending to the game.”
The No. 5-seeded Galaxy and top-seeded Wizards played to a scoreless draw last Friday in Kansas City, earning both teams one point in the series that is won by the first team to five points (three points for a win, one for a tie). A deciding Game 3 will be played Friday at Arrowhead Stadium.
With the win, the Galaxy merely needs a tie Friday to advance to MLS Cup 2000 at RFK Stadium in Washington on Oct. 15. If the Galaxy reaches the title match for the second time in as many years, it would face the winner of the Chicago Fire-New York/New Jersey MetroStar semifinal series, which is tied at one win (three points) apiece. The Fire and MetroStars conclude their series Friday in Chicago.
However, if the Wizards win Game 3, a 20-minute “golden goal” period would ensue with the first team to score advancing to the championship game.
If neither team were to score in the extra time, a penalty-kick shootout would settle the issue.
The Galaxy’s trio of Olympians--Califf, Peter Vagenas and Sasha Victorine--returned from Australia Saturday afternoon and, citing their weary legs and jet lag, Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid rested them all to start the game.
Califf replaced Zak Ibsen to start the second half and Victorine came in for Brian Kelly in the 55th minute. Vagenas did not play.
The Galaxy attacked the heart of Kansas City’s vaunted and physical pack-it-in-style of defense in the early going. It was in the 16th minute that Jones scored the first goal of the series, on a give-and-go play with defender Ezra Hendrickson.
After passing off to a waiting Hendrickson on the right wing, Hendrickson returned the favor with a quick pass to the middle to a streaking Jones. Jones blew his shot by Wizard goalkeeper Tony Meola to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead. Including the playoffs, the Galaxy entered the game 15-1-2 when scoring first.
The Wizards took advantage of a sleeping Galaxy defense in the 29th minute.
After Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos fouled Wizard defender Kerry Zavagnin, Zavagnin quickly started the ensuing play with a pass to midfielder Matt McKeon, who immediately fired from midfield 30 yards out, past a dazed Galaxy defense.
McKeon’s shot found the top left side of the net, past a diving Kevin Hartman, the Galaxy goalkeeper, to tie the score.
While Kansas City had more total shots than the Galaxy, 11-9, they each had the same number of shots on goal, 6-6. The Galaxy, though, was hit with twice as many fouls, 16-8.
“I thought we did a better job of breaking them down tonight because we got behind them on the outside,” Schmid said. “We just felt if we kept pressing over the wings, eventually we would get something. Going over the wings got us the corner [kick] and that set up the goal.
“I don’t know how Califf’s legs felt, but his head looked good.”
Galaxy Notes
While there was still no official word on the availability of forward Luis Hernandez for Game 3, Galaxy officials believe the Mexican Soccer Federation will allow Hernandez to remain with the Galaxy for Friday’s series-deciding match. Hernandez was called up by new Mexico national team Coach Enrique Meza for Mexico’s World Cup qualifier Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago in Mexico City.
