Galaxy Lets Its Defense Down, Ties Wizards
The Galaxy’s ownership conglomerate, Anschutz Entertainment Group, made a concerted effort this week to reach out to the Southland’s Korean community.
So the team played host to a Korean Heritage Night at the Rose Bowl, inviting fans of the South Korean national team to revel in its World Cup success at the Galaxy’s match against the Kansas City Wizards.
The thinking was that if enough red-attired Koreans showed up to the Arroyo Seco, Major League Soccer would have to take notice and sign a player from Korea and assign what would be a huge box-office attraction to the Galaxy for next season.
A Korean defender would have helped the Galaxy on Saturday night.
The Galaxy defense, which had been so solid in not giving up more than one goal per game in a six-match stretch, had two mental mistakes and each cost the Galaxy, which could muster only a 2-2 draw with the Wizards in front of 17,863.
“One day it’s our offense that lets us down,” Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said. “Another day it’s our defense that lets us down.
“We expected [Kansas City] to come out and play a little bit defensively so that was something that wasn’t unexpected.... Psychologically, we gave up goals at very bad times in the game and they were very soft goals.”
Adding to the Galaxy’s feeling of lost opportunity was the fact that it played with a man advantage for 46 minutes and did not benefit.
Kansas City’s fourth-minute score came with Preki bringing the ball up the middle of the field and spying Chris Klein by himself on the right flank. Defender Craig Waibel, whose assignment was to mark Klein, instead closed in on Preki.
Klein took Preki’s pass on the run near the right side of the 18-yard box, dribbled a bit and then unloaded a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
The Galaxy (8-7-3) tied the score in the 31st minute on a penalty kick by Carlos Ruiz.
After Chris Albright’s straightaway shot from 25 yards was deflected by a diving Tony Meola, Ruiz closed in to attempt to pick up the carom.
A collision between Meola and Ruiz ensued, sending Ruiz head over heels. Referee Rich Grady quickly pulled out a red card for Meola, sending the goalkeeper to the showers.
Bo Oshoniyi replaced Meola in the goal for Ruiz’s penalty kick attempt and, diving to his right, deflected Ruiz’s kick. But Ruiz picked up the rebound and scored his 14th goal.
After defender Ezra Hendrickson was issued a yellow card for a reckless foul during stoppage time in the first half, Preki let loose a free kick into the center of the box. Wizard defender Carey Talley headed the ball home.
Hendrickson’s score in the 56th minute was the equalizer.
The score delighted the approximate 3,500 Koreans who pounded drums and sang “Galaxy must win” in their native tongue.
Nothing was chanted, however, about a tie.
*
In other MLS games:
San Jose 4, Dallas 0--Landon Donovan had a goal and an assist, and Ariel Graziani scored in the third minute in front of 12,616 at San Jose in a meeting of the league’s top teams.
Dwayne DeRosario had a goal and an assist, and Manny Lagos scored in a three-goal first half as the Earthquakes preserved their place atop the standings.
The second-place Burn, which beat the Earthquakes, 2-1, in Dallas a week ago, lost for only the second time in 10 games.
Goalie Joe Cannon posted his league-leading seventh shutout.
New York-New Jersey 4, New England 3--Mamadou Diallo scored two goals and Andy Williams had a goal and an assist to lead the MetroStars in front of 13,837 at East Rutherford, N.J.
Colorado 1, Columbus 1--Chris Carrieri scored his seventh goal of the season with two minutes remaining in regulation to give Colorado a tie in front of 21,432 at Columbus, Ohio.
Washington 0, Chicago 0--D.C. United’s Nick Rimando made eight saves and Chicago’s Zach Thornton made four in front of 14,432 at Naperville, Ill.
In WUSA games:
Philadelphia 2, Carolina 0--Kerry Connors and Marinette Pichon scored first-half goals in front of 6,946 at Villanova, Pa., ending Carolina’s league-record five-game winning streak.
Atlanta 3, Boston 1--Charmaine Hooper and Nikki Serlenga scored second-half goals in front of 6,114 at Atlanta.
San Diego 1, New York 0--Julie Fleeting scored in the 90th minute in front of 4,002 at Uniondale, N.Y., extending the Power’s league-record losing streak to nine games.
*
Associated Press contributed to this report.
