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.Galaxy Post-Game
The Galaxy may have lucked out when San Jose's early strike was disallowed (it was certainly a close offside call), took full advantage of a defensive gaffe for the first goal and caught the Earthquakes out with an excellently worked break for the second.
But no-one used words like luck after the game.
"It allows us to write off the Colorado game," said relieved midfielder Chris Klein.
Coach Ruud Gullit was perhaps the most voluble I've seen him after the game, uncharacteristically heaping praise on such young players as Ely Allen and Palmdale's Sean Franklin.
"I was extremely happy with Sean," Gullit said. "He was really, really good. He has composure on the ball, he's quick and he checks forward."
Gullit also defended the work rate of Alan Gordon, who was the subject of unhappiness from the crowd for his finishing (or lack thereof).
David Beckham scored his first MLS goal - his free kick last season came in SuperLiga - but was more interested in talking about the improved team performance.
"What changed is our positional play," he said. "In the first game we were all over the place."
Landon Donovan clearly relished playing with someone like Beckham who has the same speed of thought and touch he does on the ball.
"We understand the game the same way and we see the game the same way so it makes it easier," he said.
Finally, Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon and Donovan may be good friends, but not on the field.
"(I was) bummed out for Joe," Donovan said of the goal. "But stay on his line next time."
Updated:
Game details here.
Comments
Thanks for the running blog and write up Mr Green.
Posted by: Ben | April 4, 2008 12:02 AM
Great post-game report.
Nice to see Ruud defend Gordon even though he looked frustrated during the game when Gordon couldn't finish. Ruud sees the value of Gordon's work ethic to the team.
Posted by: rokstedy | April 4, 2008 9:12 AM
Great post, Nick. Keep em coming. Not only that, Ruud has seen it all when it comes to players coming up in the clutch and those who come up short. No surprise there.
Posted by: JR Salazar | April 4, 2008 11:09 PM