Another 0-0 Result for Galaxy
Apparently, the Galaxy’s offense was lost in transit like so much luggage during the team’s trip halfway across the globe to play in Peace Cup Korea 2003.
How better to explain the defending Major League Soccer champion failing to score in its second consecutive match of the three-games-in-five-days tournament?
True, the Galaxy’s 0-0 draw with 1860 Munich of Germany on Friday in Daejon, South Korea, left much to be desired. But because it was the Galaxy’s second scoreless tie of the tournament -- Nacional of Uruguay was the first opponent -- the Galaxy still has an outside shot at winning its group and playing for a $2 million prize.
But that would require the Galaxy actually scoring a goal Sunday
The Galaxy would be in no position to dream about advancing, though, were it not for the play of goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
“Obviously, when you play a team of this caliber you do a lot of work when you are not making saves,” said Hartman, who suffered a cut above his right eye in a 52nd-minute collision while making a save. “You have to try to keep everybody alert and make sure everybody [is] in position because good quality teams can expose those defensive lapses.”
Hartman, who was knocked woozy after being kicked in the head and had to finish the game with a bandage wrapped around it, was injured diving after a loose ball on a corner kick.
“I won it probably milli-seconds ... before [a Munich player] swung through to hit a volley,” Hartman said. “I think he just kind of scrapped across the top of my eye.... It was do or die.... I am pretty sure it would have been a goal.
“Quality strikers and quality players for a team like [1860 Munich] are going to put that on goal. It is part of the position and something that you have to do.”
His offensively challenged teammates scoring goals, though, would alleviate the pressure on Hartman.
U.S.-Cuba Again
After last year’s white-knuckle 1-0 victory over Cuba, U.S. Coach Bruce Arena is anticipating another Cuban test today in a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal elimination match at Foxboro, Mass.
“Cuba played very well against us last year, and have proven to be a difficult opponent,” Arena said on the national team’s Web site. The game begins at noon PDT. “Our team will certainly come prepared to play.”
The U.S., which leads the all-time series with Cuba, 3-1-1, survived last year’s Gold Cup match with Cuba, which was the second of group play, thanks to a Brian McBride goal in the 22nd minute.
This year, defending champion U.S. has yet to give up a Gold Cup goal, beating El Salvador, 2-0, and Martinique, 2-0, to win Group C while Cuba upended Canada, 2-0, before falling to Costa Rica, 3-0, to finish second in Group D.
After the U.S.-Cuba match at Gillette Stadium, Costa Rica will meet El Salvador with the respective winners playing each other in the semifinals in Miami on Wednesday. The championship match is scheduled for July 27 at Mexico City.
Quick Passes
The public sale of venue series tickets for all six sites of the Women’s World Cup will go on sale today at 3 p.m. PDT and can be purchased online at fifaworldcup.com or Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 992-8457.... The “Soccer Nation” expo is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center and runs through Sunday. The event’s organizers anticipate 20,000 attendees as the United States Futsal Federation will hold its national championships in conjunction.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
