Different Days for the Galaxy

Former Galaxy player Guillermo “Pando” Ramirez received his MLS championship ring to a warm ovation shortly before Saturday’s game against the Houston Dynamo.

It was Ramirez, a midfielder on loan from CSD Municipal of the Guatemalan league, who scored the game-winning goal during stoppage time in last year’s MLS Cup against the New England Revolution.

In the course of a year, the landscape has changed dramatically.

Ramirez is once again playing in Guatemala, the San Jose Earthquakes, the Galaxy’s once-fierce rival, are now the Houston franchise and Steve Sampson is out and Frank Yallop is in as head coach of the Galaxy.

And the Galaxy’s winless streak is now at 10 games after a 0-0 tie against the Dynamo at the Home Depot Center.

“When you are at home, you want to be able to score,” Yallop said. “We had the chances to score goals and we didn’t.”

With 17 games left, the Galaxy (2-10-3) is in danger of setting the mark for worst record by a defending MLS champion. D.C. United finished 8-18-6 in 2000.

The Galaxy failed again to secure its first win under Yallop, who took over for Sampson on June 7. Yallop, a former coach of the Earthquakes, led San Jose to two MLS championships.

The Galaxy appeared timid against the Dynamo, venturing into the penalty area and all too often dribbling too much instead of shooting.

L.A. finished with eight shots, including three on goal, led by John Wolyniec’s two.

“At times, this game was ours to win,” forward Herculez Gomez said. “It’s up to us up top and the offense to put it away and we didn’t do that.”

Houston (6-3-4) has not lost to a Western Conference team in 23 games, a mark stretching to last year’s team in San Jose.

In the stalemate, perhaps the most interesting developments occurred in the stands.

Galaxy defender Chris Albright returned from a disappointing trip to Germany with the United States team at the World Cup, in time to start against Houston. But Albright left in the 62nd minute, after learning that his wife, Leah, went into labor with the couple’s first child while watching the game from the stands.

U.S. and Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, who received extensive playing time in Germany, did not suit up but watched the game from a luxury box. He was expected to play next Saturday at Kansas City.

“Landon can open it up a little,” Yallop said. “It’ll be a big boost for the guys to have him back and available.”