FLAT FIRST, SHOW-STOPPING SECOND BARCELONA'S RONALDINHO ELECTRIFIES L.A. CROWD BARCELONA 1, GUADALAJARA 1.Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer It's to be expected: the disjointed play, the touches just off, the connections that won't connect. It's early in preseason, and no matter that Barcelona, at this moment the world's foremost soccer club, took the Coliseum field with seven of 11 starters from their UEFA UEFA Union of European Football Associations UEFA n abbr (= Union of European Football Associations) → U.E.F.A. Champions League title-game triumph over Arsenal three months ago. Samuel Eto'o Samuel Eto'o Fils (born March 10, 1981 in Nkon) is a Cameroonian football striker who currently plays for FC Barcelona. He is a versatile player who, in addition to being a prolific scorer, is also known for his playmaking and defense. , the deadly Cameroonian striker, might have been full of ideas, but his legs -- or his teammates' -- too often betrayed. Frenchman Ludovic Giuly Ludovic Giuly (born July 10, 1976 in Lyon) is a French footballer who plays as a winger for A.S. Roma. After starting his career with Olympique Lyonnais in 1994, Giuly was signed by AS Monaco FC in January 1998. expertly ran the wings, but to what avail? Rafael Marquez, the Mexican star anchoring the backline backline the upper outline of the body's silhouette viewed from the side. , was stingy stin·gy adj. stin·gi·er, stin·gi·est 1. Giving or spending reluctantly. 2. Scanty or meager: a stingy meal; stingy with details about the past. , sure, but chances were surrendered. And so the first 45 minutes of Barcelona's ``friendly'' Sunday evening against Guadalajara, before a Coliseum soccer- record crowd of 92,650, played out as little more than it was, a game that meant nothing, preparation for what will come. That all changed after halftime, after Ronaldinho -- the biggest of Barca's collection of superstars -- came on, entering to wild applause that continued to rain down every time he touched the ball. The Brazilian playmaker play·mak·er n. A player in a sport with goals, such as a guard in basketball, who initiates offensive plays. play , FIFA's World Player of the Year the past two years, brought something special to the proceedings, offering some magical moves, setting up one goal and creating several more chances in an electric second half. It ended 1-1, a result that flattered the Catalans. Eidur Gudjohnsen's 74th-minute goal from Ronaldinho's feed clearly was offside off·side also off·sides adv. & adj. 1. Sports Illegally ahead of the ball or puck in the attacking zone. 2. -- neither linesman Fabio Tovar nor referee Brian Hall
``I think it was an interesting game against a good opponent,'' Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager and former player. Rijkaard has played for AFC Ajax, Real Zaragoza and AC Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. said. ``I think the resuklt at the end was correct. ... For us, it was important to play this game in a good ambiance am·bi·ance also am·bi·ence n. The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment: "The noir ambience is dominated by low-key lighting . . . .'' Chivas, Mexico's most popular club, was celebrating its centenary, an event deemed so important that it sent a second team, with just one regular starter, to its Torneo Apertura opener in Mexico's Primera Division earlier Sunday in Toluca. Antonio Cue, the president (and co-owner) of Guadalajara-affiliated MLS See multilevel security. club Chivas USA, said Toluca had verbally agreed to push back the league opener during negotiations with Barcelona for the Coliseum clash. That pact fell apart, and Guadalajara's decision to use a reserve team proved costly in a 1-0 defeat. ``This was a very important game,'' Cue said. ``We're playing the top team in the world today, with the biggest stars.'' Priorities had to be made. ``We tried to do the best we could to give it the seriousness it deserved,'' said coach Jose Manuel ``Chepo'' de la Torre, who guided the reserves in Toluca, then flew a private jet to Los Angeles, getting to the Coliseum in the 15th minute. ``The ideal situation would have been to have a full team for both matches.'' Guadalajara was constantly dangerous while creating few real chances. It nearly struck twice late in the first half, but Omar Bravo was blocked by Carles Puyol and Javier Ledesma's header from Ramon Morales' corner kick was just off the mark. Ronaldinho, with his array of feints and tricky footwork, gave Barcelona life, and it nearly paid off in the 57th minute. Chivas defender Edgar Mejia cleared Sylvinho's angled shot off the line, goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera knocked away Ronaldinho's shot, and Giuly sent the rebound over the crossbar. Gudjohnsen, the Icelandic striker just arrived from Chelsea, was an impressive partner for Ronaldinho, and he beat Talavera twice -- hitting the left post, then firing home the rebound -- from the Brazilian's blind pass. Guadalajara's pressure paid off in the 83rd, and Barcelona goalkeeper Ruben Martinez had no chance with Diego Martinez's header. scott.french@dailynews.com (818) 713-3627 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) FIT TO BE TIED (2) Barcelona's Ronaldinho fights off Guadalajara defender Javier Ledesma during the second half of Sunday's game. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer |
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