Final Result: Chicago Fire at Galaxy
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
What's that noise? Ah, the final whistle thankfully is here. This was one of those nights to stay home and watch synchronized diving or dressage rather than endure a game of over hit crosses, flubbed back passes and inaccurate shots.
John Thorrington of the Palos Verdes Peninsula saved the game from complete non-event status with a swerving shot from 19 yards served to him on a platter by Brian McBride to give the Fire a 1-0 win.
It was his fifth goal of the season and some will recall it was the former Manchester United youth player who ensured the Galaxy didn't make the playoffs last year, scoring the winning goal for the Fire in the last game of the season.
Thorrington tried out for the Galaxy (and Chivas USA) after the Fire initially waived him before picking him up again so maybe he's motivated or it's all those friends and family in the crowd.
Take a bow, John (actually he did - two of them - in his goal celebration).
Apart from that there was little to recommend this game. It was one of those you want to keep Eurosnobs away from so they don't rail against MLS.
It was as if, said a press box joker dryly, both teams had a player of two missing.
Yes, quite.
If Bruce Arena had any illusions about the enormity of the task facing him he surely didn't after an ill-advised Sean Franklin back pass was missed by Greg Vanney in the 78th minute right in front of goal. Chris Rolfe pounced upon it, but didn't make the Galaxy pay. Goalkeeper Steve Cronin appeared so amazed as Vanney shuffled off I don't think he knew which defender to yell at.
For those keeping count at home, the Galaxy winless streak is now up to nine games.
Back with more later.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. 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 and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Things will get no better in MLS with this salary cap. It's amazing that anyone goes to games for this league as the quality is just not there. MLS is trying to run before it can walk. AEG just doesn't get it and the fear of overspending that is traceable to the NASL will condemn this league to the scrapheap. Get rid of the draft structure, get the league in line with FIFA, institute promotion and relegation, and allow teams to bring in real footballers instead of the amateurs they're now selling as Pro's. Why can't teams bring in players like Baros, Luneberg, Sylvestre, and others? Put the current mls'ers in the developmental leagues and move forward. To get better overall the players need to be playing against, and with, good players. Nobody on the Galaxy can even deal with the passes Beckham can dish out.