SAN JOSE -- Two years ago, the Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes met in what is widely regarded as the greatest game in MLS history. By comparison, Saturday night's contest between the two rivals was about as exciting as a tea-pouring contest. Which was just how the Galaxy wanted it.
A second-half goal by Ned Grabavoy proved to be the clincher as Los Angeles played San Jose to a 1-1 draw at Spartan Stadium. With the result, the Galaxy advanced to the Western Conference Championship 4-2 on aggregate over the Earthquakes, who entered the semifinal series with the best record in MLS.
On Nov. 9, 2003, Los Angeles won the opening leg 2-0 and took a 2-0 lead on the return leg at Spartan Stadium before falling apart to lose 5-4 in overtime. So the Galaxy could be forgiven if they weren't too excited after their 3-1 win in the first leg last Sunday at The Home Depot Center.
"Right after the game last Sunday, I put on the board that we had a 4-0 lead two years ago and squandered it," said goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who was in the nets that fateful day in 2003.
Peter Vagenas, who put the Galaxy up 4-0 with a piercing run through the midfield in the 2003 epic, agreed that ignoring what happened was not the best course of action.
"For the guys who have been here a while, everyone wanted to say to just forget it," said Vagenas. "I thought that was the wrong approach. We all needed to realize that if we didn't come in with the right mindset that they could end our season again."
Grabavoy made sure that didn't happen, deftly chipping a through ball from Landon Donovan over the outstretched arms of San Jose goalkeeper Pat Onstad for a backbreaking goal in the 67th minute.
"When the ball went into Landon, I saw (San Jose defender Danny) Califf step up and so I continued my run behind. He played a great ball through," said Grabavoy, a second-year pro out of Indiana University. "In that situation, I didn't think I could bang it through him, so I felt a chip was what was needed."
In more ways than one.
"The best part was the dead silence from the San Jose faithful," said Hartman. "A two-goal lead seems insurmountable at that point in the game, but we certainly know that's not the case."
Los Angeles played the first half very close to the vest, looking to absorb pressure and counter through long balls to speedy forwards Herculez Gomez and Donovan. The Galaxy managed to keep the Earthquakes' opportunities to a minimum, up until a key mistake by Hartman gave San Jose some hope just before the break.
Just three minutes from intermission, Hartman received a back pass from left back Todd Dunivant, but hit his clearance directly to San Jose's Brian Mullan. The former Galaxy midfielder crossed the ball into the center, where Brian Ching converted on a diving header to make it 1-0.
"Todd got the ball stuck underneath him a little and he played it back to me. It was bumpy in the area and I just tried to get the side of my foot on it to get it out as far as possible," said Hartman, noting the ragged conditions of the field, which is shared with the San Jose State University football team.
"Unfortunately, it went to Mullan and he hit a good cross. As a goalkeeper, I had to recover as quickly as I could, otherwise I'd be looking at a second, third and fourth mistake."
Vagenas admitted he was a little concerned after that goal.
"I'd by lying if it didn't enter my mind -- you sort of got that inkling that they might have some life for a run in the second half," said Vagenas. "We just knew that whoever got the next goal would likely win the series."
The Earthquakes seemed the more likely team to do so, as Hartman was forced into a diving save to deny former Galaxy forward Alejandro Moreno in the 65th minute and Mark Chung just missed wide with a full volley in the 66th. But then Grabavoy came through with his heroics just a minute later to finish off the holders of the Supporters' Shield.
"We were a bit sullen in the locker room at halftime," said Hartman. "We said to each other that we weren't going to lose this as individuals, we were going to win this as a team."
The victory might not have come in the dramatic fashion of the confrontation between the two California rivals two seasons ago, but that was just fine by the Galaxy.
Danny Kadah is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
