Gomez Makes the Most of It
The turning point of the season and, possibly, the career of Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez came on a low, 20-yard shot that deflected off the right post and landed in the net.
“There were a bunch of emotions,” Gomez said. “It was the letting out of a lot of frustration and a big sigh of relief.”
The goal against Chivas USA last month was Gomez’s first in Major League Soccer play and showed how far the 23-year-old had come.
After graduating from high school in Las Vegas, Gomez spent two years playing in the lower divisions of Mexico and contemplated quitting soccer because of a lack of playing time.
He went home to Nevada, had a change of heart and signed with the San Diego Gauchos, a Division 3 pro team.
The Galaxy played an exhibition with the Gauchos and team officials were so impressed that they added Gomez to the developmental roster at the end of 2002.
He left to play for the now-defunct San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League but returned to the Galaxy this season.
“At first, not traveling makes you feel like you are part of the team but not [really],” Gomez, who is third on the team with four goals, said of languishing on the developmental roster.
“It makes you feel like you are on the outside looking in, but now it’s nice to repay that confidence.”
The confidence was shown by Galaxy Coach Steve Sampson when he inserted Gomez against Chivas USA in the 61st minute of a scoreless game.
The repayment came three minutes later, with Gomez’s scoring on the post-rattling shot. Since then he has fit snugly into the Galaxy’s starting lineup, becoming a steady playmaker in the absence of leading scorer Landon Donovan, who has missed nearly one-third of the team’s games because of U.S. national team commitments.
“When you have Landon, it gives you a big boost,” Gomez said. “It’s a little difficult with him not there, but we’ve had guys who have stepped up and done wonderful.”
Chief among those is Gomez, who scored both goals in Donovan’s absence Wednesday during a 2-1 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal victory over San Jose.
“When he first came to the team, we didn’t expect him to do as much as he’s doing,” Sampson said. “It’s a wonderful surprise. He deserves a lot of credit because he’s worked really hard.”
The Galaxy will face the Earthquakes again tonight with Donovan available.
“It’s going to be difficult,” Gomez said. “They’re going to come out gunning for me. With Landon there, it will help, but they’re not an easy team. They are in first place for a reason.”
As for the first name of Herculez, Gomez said the comparisons to the Greek hero by fans and media are inevitable.
“It makes me feel like my dad wasn’t wrong,” Gomez said. “He gave me a strong name and, so far, it’s working out.”
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GALAXY TONIGHT
at San Jose Earthquakes,
8, ESPN2
Site -- Spartan Stadium.
Radio -- 830, 1540.
Records -- Galaxy 10-9-5, Earthquakes 11-4-8.
Record vs. Earthquakes -- 1-1.
Update -- The Galaxy will be looking to defeat the Earthquakes for the second time in four days. Donovan, who missed Wednesday’s game to play with an MLS select team in Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to Real Madrid in Spain, will start against his former team. The Galaxy’s 3-2 victory over D.C. United last Saturday gave the team its first win away from Southern California since last year. L.A. is tied with FC Dallas for second place in the Western Conference with 35 points and trails San Jose by six.
