Focus Is on Galaxy’s Dismal Road Record
Some of the gloss has been taken off tonight’s match between the Galaxy and FC Dallas at the Cotton Bowl because Dallas will be missing injured strikers Carlos Ruiz and Eddie Johnson and Los Angeles will be without injured winger Guillermo “Pando” Ramirez.
Still, the fact that first place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference is on the line gives the game a certain edge, especially with the Galaxy coming off an unexpected 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids at Denver on Wednesday night.
“The guys were obviously very frustrated by the match in Colorado and are looking to redeem themselves,” Galaxy Coach Steve Sampson said Friday.
Wednesday’s defeat meant the team is 3-20-11 away from the Home Depot Center since the start of 2003 and it dropped Sampson’s road record to 1-8-1 since he became Galaxy coach on Aug. 18.
“We don’t really feel we have a jinx on the road,” Sampson said. “We’re just trying to improve from a soccer standpoint.”
One of the players who appear most in need of improvement is Brazilian forward Ednaldo de Conceicao, better known simply as Naldo.
Naldo, a 29-year-old who was acquired from the Swiss league in March because of his size, speed and alleged goal-scoring prowess, has played in 11 games, starting four. He has no goals and only one assist in 419 minutes.
“I think Naldo can offer more than what he has offered, and the expectation is for him to offer more,” Sampson acknowledged. “That is a discussion we will be having.
“He has to hold the ball much more against a defense that is very compact. And when he plays in wide positions, I think we have to be able to play through him more intelligently.”
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TONIGHT
at Dallas, 5:30 PDT
Site -- Cotton Bowl.
Radio -- 830, 1540.
Records -- Galaxy 7-3-2, Dallas 7-2-3.
Record vs. Dallas -- 1-0.
Update--The Galaxy trails first-place Dallas, 24 points to 23, in the Western Conference. The Galaxy defeated Dallas, 2-0, at the Home Depot Center on April 30 on goals by Landon Donovan and Peter Vagenas.
