As Galaxy Sees It, Dallas Is First Test
The old gang was out at the Home Depot Center on Friday morning -- Alexi Lalas, Jorge Salcedo, Andreas Herzog, Dan Calichman, Arash Noamouz, Mauricio Cienfuegos and others -- all reliving their Galaxy youth.
Today’s Galaxy players were there too, preparing for their first real test of 2005, against unbeaten FC Dallas tonight.
But before the main event at 7, the Galaxy will present an alumni game at 5 in recognition of the club’s 10th season and to honor the players who have helped bring it this far.
Judging by the alumni’s huffing and puffing, the years have taken their toll and gone by all too swiftly.
“I’m reminded of it every day,” Lalas said. “There was group of young teenage girls the other day who wanted their picture taken with me, and as the picture was being taken they said, ‘Our parents think you’re so cool.’ That was wonderful.”
The alumni, who will be joined today by Jorge Campos, Hong Myung Bo and several other former Galaxy players, were lighthearted, but Coach Steve Sampson and the team were taking things more seriously.
“We realize that the two teams we’ve played [and beaten] previously are expansion teams and the Columbus game we’ve tried to erase from our memory,” Sampson said of a 3-0 road loss to the Crew. “So really this is our first true test, and it’s going to be tough going.”
Dallas (3-0-1) is in first place in the Western Conference, four points ahead of Los Angeles (2-1), and brings a trio of quality attacking players in Carlos Ruiz, Eddie Johnson and Ronnie O’Brien.
“We have to be smart about how we defend them,” Sampson said. “It’s very important that our midfield line helps out whenever Johnson, O’Brien or Carlos get the ball at their feet.”
The Galaxy’s last line of defense is goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who could be in for a busy evening.
“They do have great players and we just have to make sure that we don’t allow ourselves to really get mixed up in Carlos’ tactics of being able to get fouls in good positions,” he said. With Dallas’ committing three players to the attack, Coach Colin Clarke’s team might be vulnerable to the Galaxy’s speed on the counter.
“If you’re able to play quickly out of the back and you’re able to get beyond those three guys, then it really puts them numbers-wise a little bit down,” Hartman said. “I think that’s probably one of our main tactics at this point.”
*
GALAXY TONIGHT
vs FC Dallas, 7, FSNW2
Site -- Home Depot Center.
Radio -- 830, 1540.
Records -- Galaxy 2-1, Dallas 3-0-1.
Record vs. Dallas (2004) -- 3-1.
Update -- Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu and midfielder Guillermo “Pando” Ramirez have nagging injuries but nothing serious enough to prevent them from starting.
Tickets -- (877) 342-5299.
*
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Haunting in the Making?
Today marks the Galaxy’s first meeting with Carlos Ruiz since L.A. traded the prolific scorer a month ago to FC Dallas to open a spot on the roster for Landon Donovan. Here’s how a selection of other high scorers performed after departing the Galaxy:
* Eduardo Hurtado -- Two years after leading the first Galaxy team to the MLS Cup with 21 goals, the powerful Ecuadoran known as “El Tanque” was dealt to the MetroStars two games into the 1998 season. He scored 17 goals in two seasons with the MetroStars, one against the Galaxy.
* Ante Razov -- After being unable to break into the lineup in two seasons with the Galaxy, Razov signed with Chicago in its first season and was a mainstay with the Fire, scoring 76 goals over the next seven seasons, including five against the Galaxy. Razov now plays for Columbus.
* Clint Mathis -- To clear room for the signing of Mexican international Luis Hernandez in 2000, the Galaxy was forced to allow its former first-round draft pick to go to the MetroStars, where he became an immediate hit, scoring 13 goals in 21 games. He scored 33 goals in four seasons with the MetroStars. Two came against the Galaxy, including one in his first return to the Rose Bowl. Mathis now plays for Real Salt Lake.
