Galaxy’s Focus Narrows With Playoffs Looming
It would be easy for the Galaxy to lament its U.S. Open Cup run coming to an end with Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire in the tournament’s semifinals.
Apparently, though, it’s easier for Coach Sigi Schmid to find a positive spin, what with five games left in the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer season and the team in position to clinch a playoff berth tonight with a win or a Dallas loss or tie at San Jose.
“The positive is that [the schedule] becomes one less game ... we don’t have that distraction,” Schmid said. “And, hopefully, we can learn from [the Chicago loss] -- that even though we go down 2-0, we don’t open up prematurely and we can come back.”
The Galaxy actually fell behind by three goals midway through the second half to the Fire before storming back with two quick scores of its own to make it a suddenly competitive affair.
“At least,” Schmid said, “we showed the character to fight back behind younger players.”
He may have to rely on his youngsters again tonight against Kansas City in the Galaxy’s second-to-last regular-season home game. Defender Danny Califf is probable after pulling his right hamstring at Chicago and forward Carlos Ruiz is ineligible to play because of caution points accumulation.
Ruiz’s sitting out deprives fans of seeing the top two scorers in MLS. Wizard midfielder Preki has 34 points on 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games, and Ruiz has 31 points on a league-high 14 goals and three assists in 22 games.
Alejandro Moreno (five points on two goals and an assist in 20 games) will replace Ruiz and join Diego Serna up front.
“If [Moreno] can put plays at the end of his work, he’s proven he’s a pretty good player,” Schmid said.
Sounds like a positive situation ... for now.
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Rivaldo Released
AC Milan, the reigning European champion, and Rivaldo, the 1999 world player of the year, have parted company at the player’s request.
“I might not have had the good season I expected but [I] don’t want to look for a culprit,” Rivaldo said on the team’s Web site. “It was a personal choice I have taken -- I think it is the best one.”
Rivaldo, 31, had almost two years left on a contract worth $4.6 million a year. He was reportedly unhappy with his diminished role with the Italian Serie A power and was left off Milan’s roster for its Champions League final against Juventus in May after starting 27 games and scoring eight goals.
He is eligible to play for another team in this season’s Champions League.
Rivaldo joined AC Milan as the 2002 World Cup’s second-leading scorer with five goals for champion Brazil. Countryman Ronaldo has appealed to his club, Real Madrid of Spain, to sign Rivaldo.
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Olympic Qualifying
CONCACAF has switched the site of women’s qualifying for the 2004 Olympics from Mexico to Costa Rica and the tournament’s dates to Feb. 25-March 7, 2004.
“Women’s football in Costa Rica has always enjoyed strong support and has been one of the major footholds of the sport in our region,” CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said.
Eight teams, including the United States, will compete for two Olympic spots. The men’s qualifying tournament will remain in Mexico and run Feb. 2-12.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
