Carefree Galaxy Defeats Troubled Revolution, 5-1
FOXBORO, Mass. — While Cobi Jones was signing autographs and soccer shirts and fending off dozens of screaming young girls Saturday evening, Paul Caligiuri was leaning up against a fence at Foxboro Stadium and wondering whether to get some dreadlocks.
Obviously, they work for Jones, who is parlaying his MTV smile and his hairdo into what is rapidly turning into an MVP season for the Galaxy striker.
Of course, scoring a few goals helps, too, and Jones added three more to his tally Saturday as the Galaxy routed the hapless New England Revolution, 5-1, in front of 24,143.
The victory increased the Galaxy’s Major League Soccer-record goal haul for the season to 76 and improved Los Angeles’ record to 20-6. That also set a record, breaking the team’s 19-victory mark of 1996.
But while Boston-area media were calling for the scalp of Revolution Coach Thomas Rongen, Caligiuri was contemplating a suggestion he adopt Jones’ hairstyle.
“If it doesn’t work, I’m coming after you,” he joked.
There wasn’t much point in being serious Saturday, not after the Galaxy, which already has clinched a playoff berth, simply toyed with a disintegrating New England team.
The 5-1 margin matched the score by which the Galaxy had beaten the Revolution at the Rose Bowl last month. Then, Carlos Hermosillo contributed three assists. This time, the Mexican striker scored two goals, in the 56th and 72nd minutes.
But it was Jones who danced rings around New England’s defense, scoring in the 11th, 79th and 85th minutes and bringing about the ejection of Revolution captain and U.S. national team defender Mike Burns, who, while trying to stop Jones, was forced to foul him in the 70th minute.
Burns got a red card and the Galaxy got a penalty, but Revolution goalkeeper Ian Feuer guessed correctly and tipped Jones’ penalty kick against the right post, from which it rebounded clear.
Two minutes later, Hermosillo scored his second and Los Angeles’ third and the rout was on. Leading, 2-0, when Burns was sent to an early shower, the Galaxy scored three goals in the final 20 minutes, Clint Mathis assisting on two of them.
“For us, the game got easier when they got a player ejected,” said Galaxy Coach Octavio Zambrano, who explained the Galaxy’s strategy against the Revolution, 8-18 and all but out of playoff contention.
“We try to do what we know how to do,” he said. “We try to knock the ball around and wait for the opportunities. Carlos [Hermosillo], in particular, is coming around and finding his spot and doing what he does best, being in the right pace at the right time.
“A lot of things clicked for us. I’m happy with the performance of the team.”
But Caligiuri, a national team veteran like his former UCLA teammate, Jones, knows it won’t be this easy in the playoffs and that the Galaxy will be tested more by teams such as the Chicago Fire and defending champion Washington D.C. United.
“The style we’re playing right now, where we look to counter [attack] and really blow the game out, I don’t know if that’s really going to be the situation come playoff time,” Caligiuri said. “I think we’ll play a little more conservative. When we get a 1-0 lead, that could be the decisive goal. I don’t think we’ll be so risky.
“But maybe that is our style. If we’re fortunate enough to get the early goal, teams adjust and come out more, and that’s when we really show our talent. Players like Cobi and Welton are able to show some speed and find the gaps.
“But I still believe the playoffs will be a different story. But we’re a team that believes we could and should win every game. I think it would be a great disappointment if we didn’t reach the [Oct. 25] final [at the Rose Bowl].”
The Revolution scored a consolation goal in the final minute when Raul Diaz Arce, who earlier had skied a penalty kick over the crossbar, headed home a cross from substitute Jamar Beasley, who became the league’s youngest player at 18 years and one month when he was sent into the game in the 72nd minute.
