Galaxy Seeking Albright Future
It is possible to pinpoint when the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer season turned sour.
It was at 8:09 p.m. on May 25 at the Home Depot Center, when Columbus Crew rookie goalkeeper Bill Gaudette made a lunging tackle on Chris Albright, leaving the Galaxy veteran on the ground, a torn ligament in his left knee.
The Galaxy was 5-2 at the time, neck and neck with FC Dallas for the lead in the Western Conference. After Albright came out, the Galaxy tied the Crew, starting a downward spiral that has seen the team go 2-4-4 and fall to third place in the West.
Injuries and national team call-ups have hurt, with the absence of Landon Donovan a prime cause for the decline.
The loss of Albright has been just as damaging.
Tonight, Albright returns against Chivas USA. He might play a half or less. Either way, it should signal the beginning of a return to normalcy for Coach Steve Sampson’s struggling squad. Albright not only anchors the right side of the defense, he also combines with right wing Cobi Jones in offensive forays down that flank, in addition to being a scoring threat on free kicks and corner kicks.
“He’s very good as far as communicating and letting me know where to go,” Jones said. “It’s been a little bit more difficult with players who aren’t used to me and how I play and who aren’t as talkative as he is.”
Albright’s overlapping runs give Jones more options, freeing him to be more creative.
“He allows me to go inside,” Jones said, “and to play deeper and to be more of a playmaker instead of always just sitting on the outside, being so rigid.”
Said Albright: “We have a good chemistry, and I think he’s happy to have me back because we understand each other. ... I know where he likes the ball, he knows where I like the ball, and we work well together.”
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TONIGHT
Chivas USA at Galaxy, 7, FSNW
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- 830, 1540.
Records -- Galaxy 7-6-4, Chivas USA 2-13-3.
Season series -- Galaxy leads, 2-0.
Update -- The Galaxy won the first two games between the clubs, 3-1 and 2-0. The match is close to being sold out.
Tickets -- (877) 342-5299.
