Galaxy Suffers First Setback
It was bound to happen sooner or later, and Wednesday night it did.
The Galaxy, unbeaten in its first 11 games of the Major League Soccer season, no longer holds that distinction after a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution in front of a rain-soaked Foxboro Stadium crowd of 31,113.
The game was the first half of a doubleheader that saw Colombia’s national team defeat perennial Portuguese power Benfica, 1-0, in the nightcap--hence the larger-than-usual-for-an-MLS-game crowd.
Ted Chronopoulos scored a goal in each half, the first on a powerful shot from about six yards in the 40th minute and the second on an equally powerful header from the same range in the 70th to sink Los Angeles.
The good news for the Galaxy was that U.S. Olympic team midfielder Peter Vagenas of Cerritos made his MLS debut and scored the team’s lone goal, off a cross from Cobi Jones in the final minute. Olympic teammate Dan Califf, of Orange, made his first MLS start and was a solid replacement for injured captain Robin Fraser.
The not-so-good news was that defender Ezra Hendrickson picked up two yellow cards and was ejected. He will miss Saturday’s game against the San Jose Earthquakes at the Rose Bowl.
Afterward, grim-faced Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid expressed displeasure with his team’s anemic offense, which was totally unable to unlock the packed back line thrown up by New England until Jones found a way around the back of the defense in the closing moments.
“We haven’t had a forward score a goal in a month,” Schmid said. “That’s something that obviously has to change.
Chronopoulos took full advantage of his scoring chances, looking much sharper in front of the net than Galaxy starting forwards Jones, Sebastien Vorbe and Sasha Victorine. The trio took a total of two shots between them, only one on target. Substitute Seth George managed only a single, off-target shot.
“I was tightly marked, it was just getting to the ball before everyone else,” Chronopoulos said. “Just wanting it a little bit more.”
The loss left the Galaxy at 6-1-5, six points behind the Kansas City Wizards, the league’s only remaining unbeaten team at 9-0-2.
The last time the Galaxy played New England, at the Rose Bowl on April 1, the Revolution built a 2-0 lead but ended up being tied, 2-2.
“I think it was in the back of our minds,” said New England Coach Fernando Clavijo. “Every time you have a [scoring] opportunity against a team like Los Angeles you have to punish them because they have a very good team and you know that sooner or later they’re going to come back.”
The Galaxy comes back today, at least to Los Angeles, where it has two days to regroup before facing the Earthquakes. Striker Luis Hernandez is supposed to be back in town Friday after taking a few days to clear personal business in Mexico.
Wednesday’s game was also the first for former Galaxy defender Joey Franchino against his old club. Franchino was traded away as part of the Hernandez acquisition.
“I wanted to get this out of the way,” Franchino said. “I don’t want to hear any more about this Luis [Hernandez] thing. I want to focus on my career here. I’m part of the Revolution and I’m happy to be here.”
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In the other MLS game, the Chicago Fire beat the Dallas Burn, 4-3, in front of 5,330 at Soldier Field.
