Parker Pain as Chivas USA Chokes
Last night was apparently a good night to skip watching Chivas USA get thrashed 4-0 by an unReal Salt Lake and head to a screening of The Damned United at Sony Studios in Culver City although I did think checking in four times (parking lot security, visitor's center, screening room guard and finally screening room PR flak) and getting the car trunk searched on the way out to boot (sorry, English humor) was more than a little excessive.
Still, the movie was superbly acted and compelling even for those of us who remember Brian Clough's infamous 44-day reign at Leeds United (I'll have more on the film when it opens) and it doesn't appear you can say the same for the Chivas USA-RSL game.
Not the best way for Chivas USA to prepare for Saturday's SuperClasico showdown with the Galaxy.
And you have to feel for young backup goalkeeper Lance Parker, who was on the end of his second consecutive 4-0 drubbing (he let in three in the first 30 minutes, including one in the first minute, on his MLS debut Aug. 8 against Colorado).
This time Parker "only" allowed three of the goals after coming on at halftime to replace Zach Thornton, still bothered by a right quad strain, but a second nightmare can't do his confidence much good with the game against the Galaxy looming. Former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley did his old team a favor by scoring the final two RSL goals in the last five minutes of regulation time.
Said Chivas USA Coach Preki:
"In all fairness, before the second goal comes I thought we were okay, the momentum was on our side. But we don't get anything out of that, and we made a mistake on the second goal and after that it was all downhill."
That's it after a 4-0 drubbing?
Wonder what Clough, king of the compelling quote, would have said?
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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.
"and getting the car trunk searched on the way out to boot."
I thought the boot WAS the trunk? Anyhow, when is the review of "The Damned United"?
Nick replies: You're right. I probably shouldn't attempt a pun before finishing my first coffee. Sorry about that. The movie opens Sept. 25 so I'll either review it in my Tuesday column or simply on the blog sometime before then.