Galaxy 1 Rapids 3

I was under the weather and was forced to skip watching the game tonight (in person), but the performance can be summed up in three words: “Not good enough.”

Game story.

Sounds like Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena was in full sarcasm mode when asked about the difference in the game:

“Oh, they scored three goals. When they find another way to decide who wins and loses games, that’s important. Until they change the rules I think it’s the team with the most goals wins. And that was the case tonight.”

Thanks for sharing, Bruce.

Galaxy lineup: Donovan Ricketts; Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter (Alex Cazumba 73′), Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza; Juninho, Chris Birchall (Eddie Lewis 42′), David Beckham, Michael Stephens (Mike Magee 76′); Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle.

The Galaxy’s season reaches its zenith tonight with a potential Supporters’ Shield-clinching game against the Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. at Home Depot Center that’s close to a sellout.

Win and they’re in – but Colorado, too, are one of the few MLS teams whose playoff aspirations are unclear; they still need to clinch a playoff spot, but could do so before a ball is even kicked today depending on what happens earlier in the day to the Kansas City Wizards, teetering on the precipice of playoff elimination.

Tweeted Lawndale’s Kei Kamara, the Wizards striker:

2day is a must win game, and am gonna need @EdsonBuddle and @landondonovan to do work at the HDC tonite…oh & Rickets, Shavar say do WORK!!

Big question for the Galaxy tonight: Will veteran central defender Gregg Berhalter return after a viral issue, neck strain and gawd knows what injury that is threatening his career?

David Beckham has played a bit part in the Galaxy’s fine season so far, but could play a crucial role tonight. Read why here.

Missed our build-up to the big game?

*Check out our Galaxy notebook here.

*Predict the result of today’s game and win a copy of “The Beckham Experiment”.

*Should the Galaxy sign Juan Pablo Angel for next season? Take the poll here.

If you’re going to the game tonight, not only should you bundle up, but keep in mind:

*The Galaxy is holding a clothing drive and collection booths will be located outside each of the Home Depot Center’s entrances. Donations will be given to the Union Rescue Mission.

All fans who donate receive a “Galaxy Drive Series Voucher” valid for $5 off a ticket for select games and will be entered into a drawing for an adidas Galaxy-signed soccer ball.

*Gates open at 6 p.m. and the first 10,000 fans through them receive a Galaxy cinch sack.

*Pregame festivities include a performance by Radio Disney artist Josh Golden at Soccerfest.

*As part of a league-wide campaign to help fight breast cancer, Saturday’s match features pink Gatorade sideline towels on team benches, pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. ribbon patches on all Galaxy player uniforms, pink scarves for Galaxy coaching staff, and pink adidas match soccer balls, which will also be available for purchase at the Team LA Store and kiosks.

In local college games Friday:

*The first-ever goal by a goalkeeper for the men’s program at Westchester’s Loyola Marymount College kept alive their dream start to the West Coast Conference season as 6-foot-6 sophomore Max Young (South Torrance High) scored with 1:10 remaining and the 10-man Lions earned a 1-1 draw at Santa Clara.

The goal marked an improbable comeback for LMU.

Trailing 1-0, and down a player who was ejected in the 88th minute, Young, making his first appearance of the season, headed home a ricocheted loose ball as the 24th-ranked Lions (9-3-2, 5-0-1 WCC) ran their unbeaten streak to eight games and maintained a seven-point advantage atop the WCC standings ahead of the second-place Broncos (5-4-4, 2-0-3 WCC).

*The Pepperdine women’s six-match unbeaten streak came to an end on a golden goal as Gonzaga defeated the Waves, 1-0, in West Coast Conference play. Pepperdine (7-4-4, 0-1-1) had a goal disallowed for offside and hit the post three times. Four of Pepperdine’s last five games have gone to overtime – but they all ended in ties.

*Stanford’s 85th minute goal was enough to beat the UCLA men, 2-1. UCLA fell to 8-3-1, 3-1-0 Pac-10.

*Sydney Leroux scored twice as the UCLA women (9-4-1) drowned the Ducks 3-1 in Eugene.

*Oregon State beat USC (8-4-2) 1-0 in Corvallis.

*In a game between the top two Big West Conference teams, leader UC Irvine defeated the Cal State Northridge women (8-7-0, 3-2-0 BWC) 1-0 in double overtime. The Matadors remain second in the conference standings.

*Diego Turoldo supplied the assist and his brother, Andre, the finish on the opening goal as the as the North Torrance High pair led the Cal State Dominguez Hills men (9-2-2, 7-2-2 CCAA) to a 2-0 win over Humboldt State in Carson.

*Junior All-American Jessica Murphy (West Torrance High) scored both goals – to make it five in her last three games – as the CSUDH women defeated visiting Humboldt State 2-0, to move to 9-3-1, 7-3-1 CCAA.

Suspicions that Juan Pablo Angel, right, would not return to New York next season were confirmed by the player himself during Tuesday’s telecast of the U.S.-Colombia game on ESPN2.

Then on Thursday ESPN reporter Allan Hopkins said four MLS clubs were interested earlier this season in signing the former Aston Villa player, including the Galaxy.

Angel would seem a natural fit for club like the Galaxy that desperately needs an experienced, proven striker up front to partner Edson Buddle (imagine how much effective he would be with Angel alongside him).

Angel may soon be turning 35, but he’s a known quantity to Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena, who coached him at the Red Bulls. And we’ve seen how effective Arena is at wringing every last drop of playing time from such veterans as Eddie Lewis, who will retire at season’s end (I’m guessing along with the likes of Gregg Berhalter and Chris Klein, while you’ve got to wonder if the playing days of Dema Kovalenko and Jovan Kirovski shouldn’t both be over, too).

Those potential departures (and freeing up of salary cap money) mean the Galaxy could benefit even more from the veteran likes of Angel, who has been relatively injury free during his career and is still among the top goalscorers (he sits fourth of the Golden Boot chart right now with 13) in MLS.

And just as importantly, Arena won’t want to see him fall into the clutches of Sigi Schmid in ever-improving Seattle, making them an even tougher MLS rival than they aren’t already (or Colorado for that matter).

So take the poll below and let me know what you think. And better yet expand on your reasoning (whether yea or nay) in the comment section.