Western Conference final postgame: FC Dallas at Galaxy

Galaxy 0 FC Dallas 3

i-0acffd57fcfbb563eb7dda9768223b80-dallaswchamps.jpgFC Dallas: Western Conference champions (AP Photos).

From the Galaxy’s point of view, the first quote in the game story from Coach Bruce Arena sums up the night:

“We have no excuses. We were outplayed. We were certainly in position in the first half to get a lead and maybe take control and failed on that. … We were outplayed, we were beat on most matchups on the field and we were outcoached. Dallas deserved the victory.”

Game story.

Indeed, all the Galaxy’s deficiencies were surgically exposed by Dallas: a plodding defense, unimaginative midfield and predictable offense.

This was an opponent that managed to bring out the worst characteristics of individual Galaxy players.

Was this Omar Gonzalez’ worst game in a Galaxy jersey with his somnolent defensive awareness? Sean Franklin once again confirmed he is not a full back by habitually being caught out of position. A.J. DeLaGarza looked small and exposed.

Dema Kovalenko mistook mindless hacking for calculated midfield bite. David Beckham (not even close to being 100 percent, to be fair, said Arena) was ordinary. Landon Donovan was a non entity after moving up front from his deep lying midfield position.

Edson Buddle looked isolated and out-matched.

Or was former Chivas USA man Atiba Harris – who Dallas Coach Schellas Hyndman said he believed would match up better physically with Gonzalez than veteran Jeff Cunningham – that good?

i-b9a99efce6fb5507ae0186e6ca92af7a-hartmansavestheday.jpgHot hands: Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman saved the day on several occasions.

Quotable:

“Kevin Hartman has been unbelievable,” said FC Dallas Coach Schellas Hyndman. “What you saw tonight was tremendous saves, one after another, especially in the first half when LA was really putting the heat on us. … He could very well be the man of the match.”

Kevin Hartman vanished after the game, incidentally, which is why you don’t see any quotes from him.

A photo gallery of game images is here

Notable: This was the Galaxy’s first home postseason loss since 1998. The Galaxy had also not lost a game this emphatically – by three goals, while scoring none – all season.

It was all the more disappointing because this was as loud a capacity Galaxy crowd of 27,000 as I can remember at the HDC and they deserved more.

Highlights:

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email