Galaxy Is Facing Must-Win Situation
How did the Galaxy go from the euphoria of a 4-1 home victory over the Colorado Rapids and a 2-0 lead against the Wizards at Kansas City to the finger-pointing of an eventual 2-2 tie against the Wizards followed by a 4-1 loss to FC Dallas on the road, all in the space of 10 days?
Landon Donovan blamed a lack of concentration.
Coach Steve Sampson blamed a lack of intensity and tactical discipline.
Both will have to be solved if the Galaxy is to maintain its hope of winning the Major League Soccer championship and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
With only three games left in the MLS regular season, Sampson’s up-and-down team now faces two must-win games in four days, starting this evening with a rematch against the Wizards at the Home Depot Center. On Wednesday night, it again plays Dallas, this time in the Open Cup final, also in Carson.
The Galaxy’s ability to bounce back after self-destructing at Kansas City and then being routed at Dallas will be severely tested.
“No one had a good game that night,” Sampson said of Wednesday’s loss to Dallas. “There were a lot of guys out there who did not play well. We have to get it right for this weekend and play with a great more intensity, concentration and tactical discipline.”
The Galaxy, third in the Western Conference, has to win today to have any realistic hope of overtaking second-place Dallas and gaining home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Complicating matters is that Kansas City also needs to win. In the tight Eastern Conference race, the fourth-place Wizards came into the weekend within striking distance of second place but also only one game out of fifth place and playoff elimination.
The Galaxy’s recent history with Kansas City is not encouraging. It has not defeated Coach Bob Gansler’s team since June 2003, a stretch of eight regular-season and playoff games.
That streak could have been stopped last weekend at Kansas City, but the Galaxy let the Wizards off the hook, giving up two goals in the last five minutes and having to settle for a tie.
“I think concentration for 90 minutes has been an issue with us at different points this year,” Donovan said.
GALAXY TODAY
vs. Kansas City, 5 p.m., FSNW2
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- 830.
Records -- Galaxy 11-12-6, Wizards 11-7-10.
Record vs. Wizards -- 0-0-1.
Update -- Several Galaxy players have been experiencing flu-like symptoms, including Peter Vagenas, Tyrone Marshall, Chris Albright and Cobi Jones. Jones did not play Wednesday at Dallas. The only impact player absent for Kansas City is defender Diego Gutierrez, sidelined because of a bruised right knee.
Tickets -- (877) 342-5299.
