Jones Back for Crew Clash

Sunday’s 1-0 loss by the United States in a World Cup qualifying game against Mexico did provide one bit of good news for Galaxy fans, at least indirectly.

Brian McBride and Cobi Jones, brought on as second-half substitutes, livened up a stagnant U.S. offense.

Tonight, the two will be on opposite sides at the Rose Bowl as the Galaxy hosts the Columbus Crew in a Major League Soccer game.

Los Angeles has trailed the San Jose Earthquakes all season, but San Jose is hosting the league-leading Miami Fusion this afternoon and the Earthquakes could be beaten.

In that case, a Galaxy victory would move Los Angeles into first place in the Western Division for the first time in 2001.

Much will depend on whether Jones is able to reestablish the on-field rapport with Luis Hernandez that was becoming evident in a 2-0 victory over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars two weeks ago.

Jones’ speed and unpredictability, combined with Hernandez’s finishing touch, make the duo difficult to defend.

They will be counted on more than ever by Coach Sigi Schmid tonight because Schmid’s bench is thin at forward.

Promising rookie Brian Mullan has been sidelined for more than a month by a right ankle injury and Los Angeles lost the rapidly improving Marvin Quijano to a sprained left knee in Saturday’s 0-0 tie with the Burn at Dallas. Sasha Victorine is listed as questionable because of a strained right groin.

TONIGHT

VS. COLUMBUS, 7

FOX SPORTS NET

Site--Rose Bowl.

Radio--KRLA (870), KTNQ (1020, Spanish).

Records--Galaxy 7-4-5, Crew 4-5-4.

Record vs. Crew--0-0-1.

Update--The teams played to a 1-1 tie in Columbus on June 2, a result that underlined the struggles the Galaxy has encountered against the Crew. Columbus leads the all-time regular-season series, 7-4-2, and has a 4-3 advantage in Pasadena.

Tickets--(877) 342-5299.