GALAXY'S CHANCES WASTED DEPLETED SQUAD FRUSTRATED BY SOME COSTLY MISTAKES D.C. UNITED 2, GALAXY 1.Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer PASADENA - With a chance to claim the Western Division lead and Major League Soccer's best record, what was left of the Galaxy finally surrendered to what was left of D.C. United D.C. United is a professional soccer club located in Washington, D.C. that participates in Major League Soccer. The club's official nickname is the "Black-and-Red" and home uniforms are black and white with accents of red. The team's name refers to Washington, D.C. , 2-1, Saturday in front of 15,714 at the Rose Bowl. World Cup qualifying hit both teams hard. The Galaxy missed six starters - Cobi Jones Cobi Jones (born June 16, 1970 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American midfielder for Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy. Jones is currently the all-time leader of the United States men's national team in appearances, with 164 caps as of the end of 2004 (scoring 15 , Robin Fraser Robin Fraser (born December 17, 1966, in Kingston, Jamaica) is a former soccer defender, one of the best defenders in Major League Soccer's history. Fraser played college soccer at Florida International University from 1984 to 1988. , Greg Vanney Greg Vanney (born June 11, 1974 in Chandler, Arizona) is an American soccer player, who currently plays defender for DC United of Major League Soccer. Greg Vanney played college soccer for Florida International University in 1992, and for UCLA from 1993 to 1995. , Mauricio Cienfuegos Mauricio Cienfuegos (born February 12, 1968 in San Salvador, El Salvador) is a retired Salvadoran football (soccer) player. Cienfuegos turned professional in 1985, and played his first season for Racing Junior of his native El Salvador. , Luis Hernandez and Ezra Hendrickson Ezra Hendrickson (born January 16, 1972 in Layou, St. Vincent) is a Vincentian Football (soccer) player who currently plays defender for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. - to their national teams. United, fighting for its playoff lives after winning three of the first four MLS See multilevel security. championships, benefited from having Bolivian playmakers Playmakers is a TV series on ESPN that depicted the lives of the players on a fictional professional football team. The show starred Omar Gooding, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl, Jason Matthew Smith, Russell Hornsby and Tony Denison. Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno, who were both sent back after reporting late to Bolivia's World Cup qualifying training site. United was without Eddie Pope, Raul Diaz Arce, Ben Olsen and Jeff Agoos because of injuries and national team commitments, but the services of Etcheverry and particularly Moreno made the difference. Moreno assisted on both of United's goals by Pete Marino and A.J. Wood to keep United's (5-13-6, 21 points) playoff heart beating while the Galaxy (10-6-7, 37 points) failed to pass West-leading Kansas City (11-4-5, 38 points), which dropped a 2-0 decision to Columbus earlier in the day. ``It's a frustrating loss because D.C. was there to be beaten,'' said Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid. ``I've always said that they're much better than their record indicates, but tonight I didn't think they were as good as D.C. has been in the past, so we let them off the hook.'' Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made a bad decision that led to United's first goal in the seventh minute. Moreno chipped a pass over Paul Caligiuri for Marino, who barely beat the Galaxy's offside off·side also off·sides adv. & adj. 1. Sports Illegally ahead of the ball or puck in the attacking zone. 2. trap. Instead of holding his position while Caligiuri recovered to chase Marino down, Hartman started to charge out of his area, then stopped when he realized he couldn't get to the ball before Marino. It left the D.C. striker with an empty net. All he had left was a simple chip over Hartman's head for his ninth goal of the season. The Galaxy answered quickly thanks to a United mistake. With Galaxy midfielder Pete Vagenas nearby, D.C. defender Geoff Aunger tried to drop a pass back for Carey Talley, but the ball slipped off his foot. Talley and Aunger looked at each other instead of chasing the ball, leaving Vagenas alone to run on and pick it up. Vagenas hurried in to challenge Talley, cutting outside to his right, then finishing with a hard strike to the left corner to even the match at 1-1 in the 17th minute. Vagenas had a chance to put the Galaxy in front early in the second half, but a bad first touch following a perfectly placed pass from Simon Elliott prevented him from beating United goalkeeper Mark Simpson in the 51st minute. Moreno made the Galaxy pay again. The crafty striker beat Zak Ibsen to the left endline, then slipped a pass in front for A.J. Wood, who finished from 5 yards straightaway straight·a·way adj. 1. Extending in a straight line or course without a curve or turn. 2. Unhesitating; immediate: a straightaway denial. n. past Hartman to give D.C. the game-winner in the 53rd minute. Galaxy defender Danny Califf, sporting a new blond hairdo, said the Galaxy spoiled a golden opportunity with a road game at Tampa Bay next week. ``This win would have buried D.C. and put us in a great spot,'' said Califf. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Zak Ibsen (7) of the Galaxy battles with D.C. United's Peter Marino. Nick Ut/Associated Press |
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