Galaxy Closing Strong

Soccer games are divided into 45-minute halves, but Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid is breaking down his team’s season into unequal thirds.

The first third lasted five games, a somewhat successful if disjointed stretch during which the Galaxy went 2-1-2, and ended with the team’s heart and soul, Cobi Jones, leaving for World Cup duty with the U.S. national team.

The middle third was full of injuries and frustration as the rudderless and injury-prone Galaxy stumbled through a 4-5 run that included a three-game losing streak.

Tonight’s game at Dallas, the Galaxy’s sixth game in 18 days, falls into the final third, a more prosperous period that began with Jones’ return. With veteran defender Alexi Lalas assuming a sweeper role, the Galaxy has gone 8-2-1 since, including a pair of U.S. Open Cup victories.

“It was tough to establish a rhythm [early on],” Schmid said. “Actually, this series of games has been the most constant we’ve been able to maintain our starting lineup in a while and I think that’s what’s helped us a lot. So hopefully now we’ll catch a rhythm and ride it.”

The streaking Galaxy, which at one point was 11 points behind division-leading San Jose, is now in second place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference, three points behind the Earthquakes, whom they play in a home-and-home series to finish the season.

Which puts that much more at stake in tonight’s game against the third-place Burn, which lost Wednesday at San Jose, 3-1, and is two points behind Los Angeles.

“They’re the most improved team in the league and they’re a team that plays very similar to San Jose with their 4-4-2 [alignment],” Schmid said of Dallas. “It becomes a game where Dallas is maybe a little more desperate than we are because they’ve now, for the first time, slipped into third place.

“They’re going to be very hungry, very motivated and when teams are desperate, they’re always dangerous. But by the same token, I think our guys know what’s [at stake]. We’ve had success in the past in Dallas and we’ve also taken one on the chin pretty good.”

The Burn has four players in double-digit scoring--forward Jason Kreis, 29 points on 13 goals and three assists; forward Bobby Rhine, 15 on five goals and five assists; midfielder Antonio Martinez, 13 on two goals and nine assists, and forward Ronald Cerritos, 12 on three goals and six assists.

“They have star power but don’t play with any prima donnas on the field,” Schmid said.