Galaxy Losing Toehold on Playoff Spot
The Galaxy played a game in Pasadena on Sunday evening but lost it earlier in the day in Monrovia.
The 3-2 loss to the San Jose Clash in front of 22,621 at the Rose Bowl was merely the finishing touch to a miserable afternoon that started going bad several miles to the east.
There, at his home in Monrovia, Galaxy defender Greg Vanney either dropped something on his left foot or kicked something. Details were not forthcoming.
Either way, it cost the left fullback his place in the lineup, and that, combined with the continuing absence of the injured Robin Fraser, meant the Galaxy was missing half its starting defense before even stepping onto the field.
The Clash, fighting to overtake the Galaxy for the fourth and final playoff berth in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference, took full advantage.
By halftime, San Jose was ahead, 3-0, courtesy of:
--A 15th-minute goal by Lawrence Lozzano off passes from Dominic Kinnear and Ronald Ceriitos.
--A 27th-minute goal by Jeff Baicher off a Lozzano pass.
--A 36th-minute goal by Baicher off passes from Lozzano and Cerritos.
“You never expect to be 3-0 ahead at halftime,†Clash Coach Brian Quinn said.
“The first half, we weren’t even in the game,†Galaxy interim Coach Octavio Zambrano said. “The second half, we gave it a good try, but it wasn’t enough.
“We can’t come out of the locker room with one lineup and change it with a minute to go until the game,†said Zambrano, who obviously had not yet been told just when or how Vanney had turned two toes on his left foot a not-so delightful shade of blue.
Asked whether Vanney’s toe was broken, Zambrano said: “I don’t know.â€
Asked how Vanney had injured his foot, Zambrano said: “I don’t know.â€
Obviously, the Great Toe Cover-up was a success.
The same could not be said for the efforts of the makeshift defense. Paul Caligiuri was moved from his right fullback position to take Vanney’s place on the left. All three Clash goals originated there.
Jose Vasquez was totally lost playing in Caligiuri’s right back position. All three Clash goals were scored by players he was supposed to be marking.
Jorge Campos in goal was so ineffective he was booed off the field at the half and was moved to a forward position with a half-hour left in the game, Kevin Hartman taking over in the nets.
Hartman’s willingness to throw his body in harm’s way drew huge cheers from the crowd, the fans intent on letting Campos know that that is what they expect of a Galaxy goalkeeper. Hartman made several excellent saves.
Dan Calichman and Danny Pena did what they could to stop the San Jose attack, and the Galaxy’s midfield and offense played well, but the 3-0 deficit was too much to overcome.
Cobi Jones, turning defender Tim Martin inside out, set up the first Galaxy goal in the 48th minute, providing a pass that Martin Machon slammed into the net from close range.
The second goal came on a penalty kick in the 80th minute after a handball by Istvan Urbanyi (later red-carded for another foul) in the penalty area. Mauricio Cienfuegos scored, making him four for four this season on penalty kicks.
That made it 3-2, but the tying goal never came. Quinn sent U.S. national team striker Eric Wynalda on with six minutes to go, enough time for Wynalda to realize that he still has some work to do to recover fully from a groin operation.
But it was toes, not groins, that were the story Sunday.
“I think it’s not broken, it may be a fracture or a crack,†Vanney said of his toe, adding that it was impossible to get a boot onto the foot, let alone kick the ball.
The loss leaves the Galaxy (10-14) only two points ahead of the Clash. The Galaxy has eight games remaining, the Clash (10-15) seven. The teams meet again in San Jose on Sept. 21.
“I feel now we’re in a playoff race,†said Quinn.
