Galaxy Is Finally Finding Net
It took the Galaxy nine matches to register its first multi-goal game of the year, a 2-0 Home Depot Center-opening victory over the Colorado Rapids on June 7.
And while it would be foolhardy to say that the defending Major League Soccer champions have found their groove by scoring at least twice in three consecutive games -- the Galaxy has, after all, won only one of those games -- Coach Sigi Schmid is enthused. Especially because leading scorer Carlos Ruiz isn’t the only one providing goals.
Chris Albright had two goals at Colorado on June 25 and added another against Dallas three days later; Alejandro Moreno scored his first MLS goal Friday night against New England.
“We’ve got seven goals now in our last three games so offensively things have improved,” Schmid said after Tuesday’s training session. “It’s good because we’ve got different people on the scoreboard ... so that’s been a plus. Unfortunately a couple of those games we gave up a couple of goals ... so we need the defense to shore up.
“We’re still giving up too many shots on goal.”
Team captain Cobi Jones said the Galaxy is still recovering from its league-record eight-game trip to open the season as well as international matches in Spain, Mexico and Honduras.
“I think it definitely affected us, the amount of travel that we did,” Jones said. “We were traveling pretty much from late January through the beginning of the [MLS] season. And not just within the U.S., but all around the world.
“There’s really no way of getting over it. You’ve just got to get the rest when you can and take one game at a time....”
The Galaxy plays Colorado tonight at home.
Ronaldhino Offer
Manchester United has raised its offer to Paris St.-Germain from $24 million (U.S.) to $28.5 million (U.S.) to gain the services of Brazilian midfielder Ronaldhino, French sports daily L’Equipe reported Tuesday.
Aragones Gone?
Luis Aragones may have reneged on his promise to quit as coach of nine-time Spanish league champion Atletico Madrid after the source of his ire, team president Jesus Gil, left his post in May. But the club let Aragones know via letter that it was terminating his contract a year early.
Aragones, 64, coached Atletico for 15 of the last 29 years in four tours of duty, leading it to its last championship in 1996 and a 12th-place finish out of 20 teams this year. He told the Spanish sports daily Marca that he will not leave without a fight.
Quick Passes
The draw to set the field for the 16-nation Women’s World Cup will be held July 17 at the Home Depot Center.... Josh Wolff, replaced on the U.S. national team by Steve Ralston, will have surgery Friday on his right knee to repair torn ligaments.... Boca Juniors will replace AC Milan in a friendly against Glasgow Celtic in Cleveland on July 25.
