Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.F.C. Dallas 1 Galaxy 1 (Half Time)
Both goals and an ejection of Dallas' Chris Gbandi came within a 15-minute span of the first half.
The Dallas goal came first in the 11th minute, when a Gbandi cross was dummied by Carlos Ruiz and fell to Dax McCarty at the back of the penalty area, who scored from about 12 yards.
The Galaxy, by the way, are winless this season after conceding the game's first goal.
Gbandi should have been sent off in the 21st minute when he retaliated after being fouled by Kevin Harmse, and simply gve the Galaxy midfielder a kick. Instead referee Michael Kennedy gave both involved yellow cards.
Gbandi was gone two minutes later for blatantly holding Alan Gordon in the Dallas penalty area. Kennedy amazingly had to consult with the linesman before issuing the red though, raising concerns about his eyesight.
That led to a Landon Donovan penalty kick, who scored (twice) although only one counted. Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala received a yellow card for encroachment after the initial kick.
Dallas finished the opening 45 minutes with three shots on goal to the Galaxy's one.
Comments
Correction: Gbandi got the red for pulling down Klein in the box. Your statement raises concerns for me about YOUR eyesight, Mr. Green.
It's not that great, but I just read three accounts of the game that noted Gbandi pulled down Gordon for the red. Thanks for reading.
Posted by: TJ | September 26, 2007 12:11 AM