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Galaxy Deal With Absences Better Than Revolution For Win
With key absences to both teams, the NE Revolution and the LA Galaxy had different outcomes making do with what they had.
Jul 5, 2009 3:39:55 AM
CARSON, Calif.--Both the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New England Revolution were missing vital players when the two teams met in the Home Depot Center on Saturday night. Of the two, the Galaxy managed to overcome the losses to earn three points, with a slender 1-0 win.
“Obviously both teams were missing players, but it's never an excuse; you have to deal with it,” LA head coach and general manager Bruce Arena said after the game.
His side was missing over half its pay scale with Landon Donovan ill and David Beckham not yet cleared to play before the international transfer window on July 15. Also missing were standout 'keeper Donovan Ricketts (international duty) and striker Alan Gordon (calf strain). Stepping in for Gordon, who pulled up injured in the pregame warmups, was recent acquisition Alecko Eskandarian, who capped his debut with a game-winning goal.
“I found out I was going to start with about 3-4 minutes left in the warmups,” the former Chivas USA striker said. “I didn't have too much time to get ready, but I've been playing this game for a while, man. It was just a matter of getting my sprints in and my warmups in, and once I got that stuff done I knew I was fine.”
Eskandarian struck in the eighth minute from a deep cross supplied by Todd Dunivant. The 26-year-old stroked the ball home one-time to decide the match early.
“I timed my run perfect so I knew I was onside, but I was just hoping the linesman would not blow the call,” Eskandarian explained. “It came on my right foot, which is my weaker foot, so I just wanted to guide it into the goal. With a ball like that – it was a great ball by Todd – you've got to hit it first time. I did my best to hit it low and keep it to the corner, and it worked out pretty good.”
Things didn't work out as well for the Revolution. Boasting an injury list that rivals his list of fit players, head coach Steve Nicol only named four fit players to the bench. Among the absent were Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, and Jay Heaps.
Still, Nicol maintained that his squad deserved something out of the match. LA sat back after the goal for the most part and repelled New England's advances.
“Sometimes in this game you don't get what you deserve, and we absolutely deserve at least a point tonight,” Nicol said after the match. “We had a ton of things against us tonight, but we stood up and showed what we were made of.
“We were absolutely gutted that we never got anything tonight.”
Despite his disappointment with the result, Nicol found time to joke about a penalty that wasn't given late in the match. Kenny Mansally drove into the box, but his progress was halted when Omar Gonzalez dove in with a tangle of legs. The referee waived play on, and nothing came of the chance.
“As far as the penalty's concerned, I'd like to see it,” said Nicol. “If the referee's made a good call I'll give him a pat on the back. But if he's not, I'll give him the opposite.”
For Nicol, it's a matter of trying not to pull all of his hair out before some key starters return. For Arena, he's riding the first winning streak of his Galaxy career, and optimistically looking towards the playoffs.
“You have to win these games in this league,” he said. “To get these last two wins at home is very important. It helps us move up the latter a little bit and starts to position our team to be competitive for, hopefully, a playoff run in the second half of the season.”
To do that, his team will have to continue to earn points when crucial cogs are missing and even when his team is outplayed.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
“Obviously both teams were missing players, but it's never an excuse; you have to deal with it,” LA head coach and general manager Bruce Arena said after the game.
His side was missing over half its pay scale with Landon Donovan ill and David Beckham not yet cleared to play before the international transfer window on July 15. Also missing were standout 'keeper Donovan Ricketts (international duty) and striker Alan Gordon (calf strain). Stepping in for Gordon, who pulled up injured in the pregame warmups, was recent acquisition Alecko Eskandarian, who capped his debut with a game-winning goal.
“I found out I was going to start with about 3-4 minutes left in the warmups,” the former Chivas USA striker said. “I didn't have too much time to get ready, but I've been playing this game for a while, man. It was just a matter of getting my sprints in and my warmups in, and once I got that stuff done I knew I was fine.”
Eskandarian struck in the eighth minute from a deep cross supplied by Todd Dunivant. The 26-year-old stroked the ball home one-time to decide the match early.
“I timed my run perfect so I knew I was onside, but I was just hoping the linesman would not blow the call,” Eskandarian explained. “It came on my right foot, which is my weaker foot, so I just wanted to guide it into the goal. With a ball like that – it was a great ball by Todd – you've got to hit it first time. I did my best to hit it low and keep it to the corner, and it worked out pretty good.”
Things didn't work out as well for the Revolution. Boasting an injury list that rivals his list of fit players, head coach Steve Nicol only named four fit players to the bench. Among the absent were Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, and Jay Heaps.
Still, Nicol maintained that his squad deserved something out of the match. LA sat back after the goal for the most part and repelled New England's advances.
“Sometimes in this game you don't get what you deserve, and we absolutely deserve at least a point tonight,” Nicol said after the match. “We had a ton of things against us tonight, but we stood up and showed what we were made of.
“We were absolutely gutted that we never got anything tonight.”
Despite his disappointment with the result, Nicol found time to joke about a penalty that wasn't given late in the match. Kenny Mansally drove into the box, but his progress was halted when Omar Gonzalez dove in with a tangle of legs. The referee waived play on, and nothing came of the chance.
“As far as the penalty's concerned, I'd like to see it,” said Nicol. “If the referee's made a good call I'll give him a pat on the back. But if he's not, I'll give him the opposite.”
For Nicol, it's a matter of trying not to pull all of his hair out before some key starters return. For Arena, he's riding the first winning streak of his Galaxy career, and optimistically looking towards the playoffs.
“You have to win these games in this league,” he said. “To get these last two wins at home is very important. It helps us move up the latter a little bit and starts to position our team to be competitive for, hopefully, a playoff run in the second half of the season.”
To do that, his team will have to continue to earn points when crucial cogs are missing and even when his team is outplayed.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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