Hiatus Is Quite a Relief
The Galaxy closes out the first portion of its disjointed season tonight, knowing that it will be more than three weeks before its next Major League Soccer game.
As far as Coach Sigi Schmid is concerned, the hiatus is coming just in time.
“This teams needs a break, the players need a little bit of time off,” he said. “It’s not even so much physically. There are a lot of guys who are uncharacteristically giving the ball away because they’re tired.
“Cien [Mauricio Cienfuegos] ran a lot [in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the Miami Fusion], but there were times when he turned the ball over. Pete Vagenas gave the ball away more than I’ve seen him do, making bad decisions.
“I just think that’s a factor of the guys being mentally tired. Right now, we’re all sort of focused on getting through these next few days and then we can go to Cancun or Cabo San Lucas or someplace.”
After playing the New England Revolution at Foxboro, Mass., tonight, the Galaxy has a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal game against the Earthquakes in San Jose next Tuesday night, then is off until Aug. 11.
The unintended break was caused by cancellation of the FIFA World Club Championship in Spain.
When it returns to MLS play, the Galaxy will have eight regular-season games remaining, two against the Earthquakes, who share first place in the Western Division with the Galaxy.
Matt Reis took over from Kevin Hartman as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, but Hartman has started the team’s last two games and earned a shutout in each.
He even saved a penalty kick in the win over Miami.
“He’s done very well,” Schmid said. “Kevin was the goalkeeper of the year in this league [in 1999] and he’s been the starting goalkeeper for the Galaxy, so we know the quality that he brings.
“When I looked at the month of July, I felt there was an opportunity to get him a couple of back-to-back games and we felt that was an opportunity for him to make his case whether he belonged on the field.
“I don’t think Matt’s done anything to lose [the starting spot], but Kevin’s making a very, very strong case and we’ll decide who the starting goalkeeper is when we come into August.”
TONIGHT
AT NEW ENGLAND,
4:30 PDT, Channel 9
Site--Foxboro Stadium.
Radio--KRLA 870; KTNQ 1020 (Spanish).
Records--Galaxy 9-5-5; Revolution 4-9-4.
Record vs. Revolution--1-0.
Update--The Galaxy is 4-1-2 in its last seven games and can move into sole possession of first place in the West with a victory. The Revolution is in last place in the Eastern Division and has not won in five games. The Galaxy beat the Revolution, 2-0, at the Rose Bowl on May 26.
