Galaxy Comes to D.C. Wanting to Be Heard
WASHINGTON — Something was born in the rain and mud that night in 1996 when D.C. United scored in overtime to beat the Galaxy for the inaugural Major League Soccer title.
It reappeared last year at midseason, awakened by Galaxy defender Danny Pena’s hard tackle, igniting a series of scuffles between the teams.
Perhaps it will return when the Galaxy plays D.C. United at RFK Stadium tonight. But what to call it?
The players and coaches hesitate to use the word “rivalry.” They are loath to put too much importance on any regular-season game.
“There have been some tough confrontations,” Galaxy Coach Octavio Zambrano said. “Some friction.”
At the very least, tonight’s game matches the teams with the league’s best records. Los Angeles (15-2) leads the Western Conference and D.C. United (14-5) sits atop the East. This is being touted as a potential preview of MLS Cup ’98.
“D.C. is definitely a team we foresee playing in the [playoffs],” Galaxy defender Ezra Hendrickson said. “We want to go there and make a statement.”
Los Angeles has let the offense do most of its talking this season. The combination of Cobi Jones, Carlos Hermosillo, Mauricio Cienfuegos and Welton is scoring at a record pace of 3.24 goals a game.
D.C. United answers with U.S. national team defenders Eddie Pope and Jeff Agoos. The two-time MLS champion also has the league’s second-best offense, led by Jaime Moreno, Roy Lassiter and John Harkes.
“We’re not going to be a team that drops 10 men back and counterattacks,” D.C. Coach Bruce Arena said. “Hopefully we can attack them enough to keep them on their heels.”
Arena insists there is no grudge in this match. He offers the typical coach-speak: The game is worth no more, or no less, than three points in the standings.
The Galaxy could use those points to stay ahead of the red-hot Chicago Fire (13-5), which handed Los Angeles its only two losses.
“What’s important is that we have got to win because Chicago is winning,” midfielder Martin Machon said.
D.C. United, meanwhile, is looking to keep pace in the East with a team that appears to be a little battle-scarred. Pope, Agoos and Harkes are nursing injuries. So is midfielder Marco Etcheverry.
“Can we stay in the game early on?” Arena mused. “That is probably where it will be won for us.”
But a few points in the standings hardly suffice to describe the big-game atmosphere.
Says Zambrano: “In every league, there is a classic matchup that everybody waits for. These are two teams that have demonstrated they are in a different class.”
