Old foes clash as Galaxy visit K.C.
Playoff implications abound as Wizards try to finish LA
MLSnet.com Staff
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MLS Career: 42 games; FC/gm: 28.1; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 13; pens: 15
Games involving Wizards: P7 W3 L3 T1; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 2; pens: 2
Games involving Galaxy: P1 W0 L1 T0; FC/gm: 25.0; Y/gm: 6.0; R: 1; pens: 0 INJURY REPORT: KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL); MF A.J. Godbolt (patellar tendonitis); FW Ryan Pore (concussion); DOUBTFUL: MF Kurt Morsink (MCL sprain); FW Scott Sealy (quadricep strain); PROBABLE: MF Eloy Colombano (knee contusion); MF Carlos Marinelli (foot strain) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - OUT: DF Chris Albright (R hamstring); MF David Beckham (R knee); MF Kelly Gray (R calf); QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (L hamstring); DF Quavas Kirk (L foot); DF Abel Xavier (L knee); PROBABLE: FW Alan Gordon (L foot); MF Kevin Harmse (R knee); DF Ante Jazic (R ankle); MF Peter Vagenas (L quad); DF Kyle Veris (R hip) SUSPENDED: LA: Kevin Harmse (through Sept. 27; five cautions)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: KC: Jimmy Conrad, Jack Jewsbury, Eddie Johnson
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: KC: Nick Garcia, Carlos Marinelli, Kerry Zavagnin ... LA: Ty Harden, Kyle Martino, Mike Randolph, Kyle Veris, Abel Xavier
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (41 meetings): Wizards 15 wins (2 shootout), 50 goals ... Galaxy 19 wins (0 shootout), 66 goals ... Draws 7
AT KANSAS CITY: (20 meetings): Wizards 11 wins (1 shootout), 30 goals ... Galaxy 7 wins (0 shootout), 30 goals ... Draws 2
• This is the second of two meetings between the clubs this season, the only one to be played at Arrowhead Stadium.
• A year ago, the Galaxy swept the season series, winning on each home ground in getting a pair of two-goal performances. Landon Donovan scored twice in L.A.'s 2-0 win in Kansas City, while Alan Gordon scored twice in the 2-1 win on Victoria Street.
• The Galaxy have won three of the last four meetings between the clubs, and the Wizards haven't defeated L.A. in league play since the final meeting of the 2004 campaign, when they captured a 1-0 win at Arrowhead Stadium.
• That season also marked the last time the Wizards defeated the Galaxy in all competitions - a 2-0 win in the Western Conference Championship, before K.C. moved to the East for the 2005 season. The Wizards and Galaxy met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with each team advancing on two occasions. For Kansas City, both of their trips to the MLS Cup Final went through Los Angeles.
• Coaches record: Curt Onalfo v LA: P1 W0 L0 D1 ... Frank Yallop vs. KC: P15 W8 L3 D4
2007 (MLS):
7/7: LA 2, KC 2 (Jones 61, 75 - Movsisyan 47; Arnaud 51)
• The teams played to a 2-2 draw at The Home Depot Center on July 7, which was the final league game for the Galaxy for nearly a month.
• The Wizards had been creating loads of chances without scoring, but they were the grateful recipients of a couple of misplays to score twice in the opening six minutes of the second half. In the 47th minute, Jack Jewsbury swung in a cross from the right and it slipped past clearance attempts from a couple of defenders. Substitute Yura Movsisyan trapped the ball, cut back and fired home a low shot.
• Then four minutes later, a cross came in from the left, and left Ante Jazic tried to head the ball to 'keeper Joe Cannon. But Cannon could only parry the back pass into the air, and Davy Arnaud snuck it to head home the rebound into the empty net to double the Kansas City lead.
• But the Galaxy started their fightback in the 61st minute. Carlos Pavon, making his first Galaxy start, fired a low shot from the left that caromed off the inside of the post and back out. But Cobi Jones came in to side-foot home the rebound.
• Then a quarter-hour later Jones hit for his second. Landon Donovan claimed a cleared corner on the right and drove a low cross to the near post where Jones was racing in to tuck it into the corner and pull the home side level. It was the first multiple-goal game for the MLS original since Aug. 10, 2002.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden, Abel Xavier, Ante Jazic - Landon Donovan, Kelly Gray, Peter Vagenas, Kyle Martino - Edson Buddle (Cobi Jones 55), Carlos Pavon (Gavin Glinton 74). Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon, Quavas Kirk, Troy Roberts, Josh Tudela
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Michael Harrington - Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Davy Arnaud - Carlos Marinelli - Ryan Pore (Kurt Morsink 81), Scott Sealy (Yura Movsisyan 46). Substitutes Not Used: Jose Burciaga Jr., Will John, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Tyson Wahl KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
A week after hauling themselves right back into playoff safety with a dramatic victory against Columbus, the Kansas City Wizards saw things go the other way, conceding a stoppage-time game-winner in a 2-1 loss to Chivas USA on Saturday evening at The Home Depot Center. The Wizards now have 36 points with four matches remaining, still in seventh place overall, four points ahead of the Chicago Fire, who hold down the final spot for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
LAST MATCH
• Chivas USA were returning home still riding their lengthy unbeaten run, now at seven games, while the Kansas City Wizards put an end to a brief three-game winless streak with a dramatic stoppage-time win against Columbus the weekend before.
• After a taut opening half, Chivas took the lead in the 69th minute through Ante Razov. Freed on the left flank, Francisco Mendoza drove a low cross to the back post where Razov cruised in to side-foot the ball into the roof of the net.
• But it took the Wizards just three minutes to pull level. Eddie Johnson outran the Chivas defense into the penalty area and ripped a shot that was deflected by Brad Guzan, ratting the crossbar. The rebound fell to Eloy Colombano's feet, and the Argentinean put back the rebound for his first MLS goal.
• This time, however, the late heroics would belong to Chivas. Getting a pass beyond the right corner of the penalty area with acres of time and space, Razov calmly curled a perfect shot high inside the far upper corner beyond K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman for the game-winner, his second of the night, 11th of the season, and 109th of his MLS league career, moving him past RSL head coach Jason Kreis for second all-time on the league's scoring list.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made two changes to the team that defeated the Crew 3-2 the Saturday before. Michael Harrington came back into the midfield for the suspended Kurt Morsink, while Ryan Pore started up top for the injured Scott Sealy.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia (Tyson Wahl 80), Jose Burciaga Jr. - Davy Arnaud, Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington (Sasha Victorine 53) - Carlos Marinelli - Eddie Johnson, Ryan Pore (Eloy Colombano 27). Substitutes Not Used: Will John, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Lance Watson
• "I'm very disappointed that we didn't walk out of here with at least a point," Onalfo said. "We created numerous chances and, overall, we had a good performance. It's extremely disheartening to walk out of here losing 2-1."
TEAM NEWS
• Scott Sealy's thigh strain kept him completely out of Onalfo's team selection - doubly difficult after he scored two goals against Columbus the weekend before - and he was replaced by Ryan Pore, who was making his first start since July 7. But Pore lasted just 27 minutes after suffering a knock to the head, and he was replaced by Eloy Colombano.
• "Colombano provides an excellent spark for us off the bench. The games are so important now; you don't want to just throw guys into it so we are slowly bringing him along trying to get him used to the league," Onalfo said. "I think he had a good performance tonight."
• The last time Chivas USA lost was in Kansas City the first time the teams met, when Yura Movsisyan scored a stoppage-time goal for a 3-2 Wizards victory.
• "I thought we outplayed them tonight. I think it was the reverse of when Chivas USA came out to Kansas City where they had the run of play but we scored in the last minute to win the game. Tonight I thought we had the run of play and they scored the winner in the last minute," Jimmy Conrad said. We're even with Chivas USA this year and we look forward to playing them in the playoffs."
• The Wizards now have just two victories over their last eight matches (losing five of those), and they haven't won back-to-back games since May 26-June 2, those they did undefeated in three consecutive games from July 14-29 (two wins bracketing a draw).
• "We're not happy about where we are at. I think it's clear that we have a lot of talent. You look at our team on paper and we should be a lot farther ahead than we are," Conrad said. "For some reason we like to make it dramatic down the stretch. The last few years we made it really dramatic and didn't get in the playoffs and this year I hope we don't even put ourselves in that position."
• While the Wizards cannot be caught by the Fire this weekend, they are still just two points behind the New York Red Bulls, who sit in sixth place. The LA match is the first of two consecutive home games for the Wizards, their final two at Arrowhead Stadium before finishing the campaign with two games on the road.
• "I don't think we need to change anything. It's the first time we possessed the ball very well," Jose Burciaga Jr. said. "I think we haven't done that very well this whole season. We just have to be tough to play against in the last four minutes."
• If and when the Wizards do clinch a playoff berth, Hartman believes that they will present a challenge to anyone they face.
• "I don't think anyone really wants to play us in the playoffs because we can play with anybody," the veteran goalkeeper said. "But first we have to take this lesson and continue to grow and hopefully make a playoff run." LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy kept their playoff dreams afloat, coming back from an early deficit for a 2-1 victory against a 10-man FC Dallas on Sunday evening at The Home Depot Center, their second league victory in three months. The Galaxy are still at the foot of the Western Conference and MLS overall tables, with 21 points from 24 matches, still 11 points behind the Chicago Fire in the last postseason slot.
LAST MATCH
• Both teams were coming into the game off midweek draws, the LA Galaxy with one win in their last 12 league games after a 2-2 result in Salt Lake City, while FC Dallas had come back to claim a 1-1 draw with Chicago at home.
• It took the visiting Hoops just 11 minutes to open the scoring. Chris Gbandi put in a cross from the left, and Carlos Ruiz also to pass through his legs on its way across the top of the box. Dax McCarty was on the back end and turned home a first-time shot from inside the area for his first professional goal.
• Then in the 24th minute, the game turned upside down. Cautioned just two minutes earlier, Chris Gbandi held back Chris Klein as he tried to get onto the end of a free kick in the area. Gbandi was shown red for the second bookable offense, as referee Michael Kennedy also pointed to the spot.
• FCD 'keeper Dario Sala saved Landon Donovan's initial attempt, but Donovan banged the rebound home. However, Kennedy had already ruled for the kick to be retaken, as Sala was well off his line when Donovan struck the initial attempt. On the second chance, Donovan left no doubt, sending Sala the other way for his seventh goal and second consecutive game with a spot kick conversion.
• The Galaxy finally broke down the FC Dallas for the game-winner in the second half. Cobi Jones -- playing in his 300th league match, fourth-most in MLS history -- sent a long pass to Klein beyond the top right corner of the area, and the LA right back hit a screaming blast that sailed high inside the near post past Sala's dive to seal just the club's second victory since July 4.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made four changes to the team that played to a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake at midweek. Kelly Gray was a late scratch to injury and Kyle Martino was also out, so Quavas Kirk and Kevin Harmse came into the midfield. It was all change up top, with Edson Buddle also injured and Carlos Pavon going back to the substitutes' bench as Alan Gordon came back in, joining Landon Donovan in attack as Cobi Jones also returned to the lineup, in a midfield role.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-1-1): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden, Troy Roberts, Mike Randolph - Quavas Kirk (Carlos Pavon 65), Kevin Harmse (Peter Vagenas 67), Josh Tudela, Cobi Jones (Gavin Glinton 86) - Landon Donovan - Alan Gordon. Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Ante Jazic, Israel Sesay, Kyle Veris
• "Three points is very important at this point, I was happy with the win, we could have scored more goals, but I'm really happy that we were able to get three points at a crucial time," Yallop said.
TEAM NEWS
• Right now for the Galaxy, it's all about taking as many points as possible if they are to pull back into the playoff chase. The Galaxy are left with a maximum of 39 points attainable for the season, a figure already bested or matched by five teams. With the Chicago Fire in eighth place and the final playoff spot, any combination of eight points won by the Fire or lost by the Galaxy would eliminate LA.
• "We thought the game was there for us tonight. We have been playing pretty well lately, and sometimes the result hasn't gone for us," Chris Klein said. "As a group we have been very positive and Frank has been very positive. We are going to try and make the season interesting, we don't know what it's going to look like in the end, but good to get three points and at least move up the standings a little bit."
• While the back four remained intact, Josh Tudela was also given a start for a second successive game, just the third of his professional career.
• "We had young kids out there; Josh Tudela had a good game I thought. We had some good individual performances but most importantly, I thought it was collectively a good performance," Yallop said. "I thought the team tried very hard and got those three points that obviously are so crucial right now."
• For Cobi Jones, it was his 300th league appearance - all with the LA Galaxy. Jones, who is set to retire after the completion of the season, joined Steve Ralston, Chris Henderson and Jason Kreis as the only MLS players with 300 league appearances. Ralston leads the group with 333.
• "For myself it is pretty special to be part of the 300 (games played) club and to get 90 assists, I know that there are only a few of us that are there," Jones said. "It shows for myself the perseverance and the dedication I have had over the years and I am glad to be apart of a small, special group."
• Jones became just the fifth player to reach the 90-assist plateau, surpassing D.C. United's Jaime Moreno with the helper on the second LA goal. It is unlikely Jones will reach third overall - held by longtime D.C. United star Marco Etcheverry with 101.
• "Cobi did a very good job like he always does, to keep the ball still in play, and I was able to settle it down, get a hard strike on goal and put it on frame," Klein said of the equalizer, set by Jones.
• If the Galaxy do not qualify for the playoffs, Jones has the possibility of just six more appearances down the road. The club have an appreciation night for the dreadlocked winger set for Oct. 18 when they face the New York Red Bulls on MLS Primetime Thursday.
• "I am definitely savoring it, every single game is a different experience, and it is always a learning experience," Jones said. "I always take a little something away from each game; especially these last few. I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as possible."
• Still, Jones would like to prolong that as long as possible. "I am always one to believe if you have a chance you keep going and striving until it is all said and done," he said. "Since we have a chance I am still playing and hoping that we can make it in."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS v LOS ANGELES GALAXY
ARROWHEAD STADIUM, Kansas City, Mo.
7 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
Sept. 27, 2007 (WEEK 26) MLS Game #168
MLS Career: 42 games; FC/gm: 28.1; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 13; pens: 15
Games involving Wizards: P7 W3 L3 T1; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 2; pens: 2
Games involving Galaxy: P1 W0 L1 T0; FC/gm: 25.0; Y/gm: 6.0; R: 1; pens: 0 INJURY REPORT: KANSAS CITY WIZARDS - OUT: MF Ryan McMahen (torn ACL); MF A.J. Godbolt (patellar tendonitis); FW Ryan Pore (concussion); DOUBTFUL: MF Kurt Morsink (MCL sprain); FW Scott Sealy (quadricep strain); PROBABLE: MF Eloy Colombano (knee contusion); MF Carlos Marinelli (foot strain) ... LOS ANGELES GALAXY - OUT: DF Chris Albright (R hamstring); MF David Beckham (R knee); MF Kelly Gray (R calf); QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (L hamstring); DF Quavas Kirk (L foot); DF Abel Xavier (L knee); PROBABLE: FW Alan Gordon (L foot); MF Kevin Harmse (R knee); DF Ante Jazic (R ankle); MF Peter Vagenas (L quad); DF Kyle Veris (R hip) SUSPENDED: LA: Kevin Harmse (through Sept. 27; five cautions)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: KC: Jimmy Conrad, Jack Jewsbury, Eddie Johnson
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: KC: Nick Garcia, Carlos Marinelli, Kerry Zavagnin ... LA: Ty Harden, Kyle Martino, Mike Randolph, Kyle Veris, Abel Xavier
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (41 meetings): Wizards 15 wins (2 shootout), 50 goals ... Galaxy 19 wins (0 shootout), 66 goals ... Draws 7
AT KANSAS CITY: (20 meetings): Wizards 11 wins (1 shootout), 30 goals ... Galaxy 7 wins (0 shootout), 30 goals ... Draws 2
• This is the second of two meetings between the clubs this season, the only one to be played at Arrowhead Stadium.
• A year ago, the Galaxy swept the season series, winning on each home ground in getting a pair of two-goal performances. Landon Donovan scored twice in L.A.'s 2-0 win in Kansas City, while Alan Gordon scored twice in the 2-1 win on Victoria Street.
• The Galaxy have won three of the last four meetings between the clubs, and the Wizards haven't defeated L.A. in league play since the final meeting of the 2004 campaign, when they captured a 1-0 win at Arrowhead Stadium.
• That season also marked the last time the Wizards defeated the Galaxy in all competitions - a 2-0 win in the Western Conference Championship, before K.C. moved to the East for the 2005 season. The Wizards and Galaxy met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with each team advancing on two occasions. For Kansas City, both of their trips to the MLS Cup Final went through Los Angeles.
• Coaches record: Curt Onalfo v LA: P1 W0 L0 D1 ... Frank Yallop vs. KC: P15 W8 L3 D4
2007 (MLS):
7/7: LA 2, KC 2 (Jones 61, 75 - Movsisyan 47; Arnaud 51)
• The teams played to a 2-2 draw at The Home Depot Center on July 7, which was the final league game for the Galaxy for nearly a month.
• The Wizards had been creating loads of chances without scoring, but they were the grateful recipients of a couple of misplays to score twice in the opening six minutes of the second half. In the 47th minute, Jack Jewsbury swung in a cross from the right and it slipped past clearance attempts from a couple of defenders. Substitute Yura Movsisyan trapped the ball, cut back and fired home a low shot.
• Then four minutes later, a cross came in from the left, and left Ante Jazic tried to head the ball to 'keeper Joe Cannon. But Cannon could only parry the back pass into the air, and Davy Arnaud snuck it to head home the rebound into the empty net to double the Kansas City lead.
• But the Galaxy started their fightback in the 61st minute. Carlos Pavon, making his first Galaxy start, fired a low shot from the left that caromed off the inside of the post and back out. But Cobi Jones came in to side-foot home the rebound.
• Then a quarter-hour later Jones hit for his second. Landon Donovan claimed a cleared corner on the right and drove a low cross to the near post where Jones was racing in to tuck it into the corner and pull the home side level. It was the first multiple-goal game for the MLS original since Aug. 10, 2002.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden, Abel Xavier, Ante Jazic - Landon Donovan, Kelly Gray, Peter Vagenas, Kyle Martino - Edson Buddle (Cobi Jones 55), Carlos Pavon (Gavin Glinton 74). Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Alan Gordon, Quavas Kirk, Troy Roberts, Josh Tudela
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia, Michael Harrington - Sasha Victorine, Kerry Zavagnin, Davy Arnaud - Carlos Marinelli - Ryan Pore (Kurt Morsink 81), Scott Sealy (Yura Movsisyan 46). Substitutes Not Used: Jose Burciaga Jr., Will John, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Tyson Wahl KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
A week after hauling themselves right back into playoff safety with a dramatic victory against Columbus, the Kansas City Wizards saw things go the other way, conceding a stoppage-time game-winner in a 2-1 loss to Chivas USA on Saturday evening at The Home Depot Center. The Wizards now have 36 points with four matches remaining, still in seventh place overall, four points ahead of the Chicago Fire, who hold down the final spot for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
LAST MATCH
• Chivas USA were returning home still riding their lengthy unbeaten run, now at seven games, while the Kansas City Wizards put an end to a brief three-game winless streak with a dramatic stoppage-time win against Columbus the weekend before.
• After a taut opening half, Chivas took the lead in the 69th minute through Ante Razov. Freed on the left flank, Francisco Mendoza drove a low cross to the back post where Razov cruised in to side-foot the ball into the roof of the net.
• But it took the Wizards just three minutes to pull level. Eddie Johnson outran the Chivas defense into the penalty area and ripped a shot that was deflected by Brad Guzan, ratting the crossbar. The rebound fell to Eloy Colombano's feet, and the Argentinean put back the rebound for his first MLS goal.
• This time, however, the late heroics would belong to Chivas. Getting a pass beyond the right corner of the penalty area with acres of time and space, Razov calmly curled a perfect shot high inside the far upper corner beyond K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman for the game-winner, his second of the night, 11th of the season, and 109th of his MLS league career, moving him past RSL head coach Jason Kreis for second all-time on the league's scoring list.
• Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo made two changes to the team that defeated the Crew 3-2 the Saturday before. Michael Harrington came back into the midfield for the suspended Kurt Morsink, while Ryan Pore started up top for the injured Scott Sealy.
• Here's Onalfo's team (4-3-1-2): Kevin Hartman - Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Nick Garcia (Tyson Wahl 80), Jose Burciaga Jr. - Davy Arnaud, Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Harrington (Sasha Victorine 53) - Carlos Marinelli - Eddie Johnson, Ryan Pore (Eloy Colombano 27). Substitutes Not Used: Will John, Eric Kronberg, Ryan Raybould, Lance Watson
• "I'm very disappointed that we didn't walk out of here with at least a point," Onalfo said. "We created numerous chances and, overall, we had a good performance. It's extremely disheartening to walk out of here losing 2-1."
TEAM NEWS
• Scott Sealy's thigh strain kept him completely out of Onalfo's team selection - doubly difficult after he scored two goals against Columbus the weekend before - and he was replaced by Ryan Pore, who was making his first start since July 7. But Pore lasted just 27 minutes after suffering a knock to the head, and he was replaced by Eloy Colombano.
• "Colombano provides an excellent spark for us off the bench. The games are so important now; you don't want to just throw guys into it so we are slowly bringing him along trying to get him used to the league," Onalfo said. "I think he had a good performance tonight."
• The last time Chivas USA lost was in Kansas City the first time the teams met, when Yura Movsisyan scored a stoppage-time goal for a 3-2 Wizards victory.
• "I thought we outplayed them tonight. I think it was the reverse of when Chivas USA came out to Kansas City where they had the run of play but we scored in the last minute to win the game. Tonight I thought we had the run of play and they scored the winner in the last minute," Jimmy Conrad said. We're even with Chivas USA this year and we look forward to playing them in the playoffs."
• The Wizards now have just two victories over their last eight matches (losing five of those), and they haven't won back-to-back games since May 26-June 2, those they did undefeated in three consecutive games from July 14-29 (two wins bracketing a draw).
• "We're not happy about where we are at. I think it's clear that we have a lot of talent. You look at our team on paper and we should be a lot farther ahead than we are," Conrad said. "For some reason we like to make it dramatic down the stretch. The last few years we made it really dramatic and didn't get in the playoffs and this year I hope we don't even put ourselves in that position."
• While the Wizards cannot be caught by the Fire this weekend, they are still just two points behind the New York Red Bulls, who sit in sixth place. The LA match is the first of two consecutive home games for the Wizards, their final two at Arrowhead Stadium before finishing the campaign with two games on the road.
• "I don't think we need to change anything. It's the first time we possessed the ball very well," Jose Burciaga Jr. said. "I think we haven't done that very well this whole season. We just have to be tough to play against in the last four minutes."
• If and when the Wizards do clinch a playoff berth, Hartman believes that they will present a challenge to anyone they face.
• "I don't think anyone really wants to play us in the playoffs because we can play with anybody," the veteran goalkeeper said. "But first we have to take this lesson and continue to grow and hopefully make a playoff run." LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy kept their playoff dreams afloat, coming back from an early deficit for a 2-1 victory against a 10-man FC Dallas on Sunday evening at The Home Depot Center, their second league victory in three months. The Galaxy are still at the foot of the Western Conference and MLS overall tables, with 21 points from 24 matches, still 11 points behind the Chicago Fire in the last postseason slot.
LAST MATCH
• Both teams were coming into the game off midweek draws, the LA Galaxy with one win in their last 12 league games after a 2-2 result in Salt Lake City, while FC Dallas had come back to claim a 1-1 draw with Chicago at home.
• It took the visiting Hoops just 11 minutes to open the scoring. Chris Gbandi put in a cross from the left, and Carlos Ruiz also to pass through his legs on its way across the top of the box. Dax McCarty was on the back end and turned home a first-time shot from inside the area for his first professional goal.
• Then in the 24th minute, the game turned upside down. Cautioned just two minutes earlier, Chris Gbandi held back Chris Klein as he tried to get onto the end of a free kick in the area. Gbandi was shown red for the second bookable offense, as referee Michael Kennedy also pointed to the spot.
• FCD 'keeper Dario Sala saved Landon Donovan's initial attempt, but Donovan banged the rebound home. However, Kennedy had already ruled for the kick to be retaken, as Sala was well off his line when Donovan struck the initial attempt. On the second chance, Donovan left no doubt, sending Sala the other way for his seventh goal and second consecutive game with a spot kick conversion.
• The Galaxy finally broke down the FC Dallas for the game-winner in the second half. Cobi Jones -- playing in his 300th league match, fourth-most in MLS history -- sent a long pass to Klein beyond the top right corner of the area, and the LA right back hit a screaming blast that sailed high inside the near post past Sala's dive to seal just the club's second victory since July 4.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made four changes to the team that played to a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake at midweek. Kelly Gray was a late scratch to injury and Kyle Martino was also out, so Quavas Kirk and Kevin Harmse came into the midfield. It was all change up top, with Edson Buddle also injured and Carlos Pavon going back to the substitutes' bench as Alan Gordon came back in, joining Landon Donovan in attack as Cobi Jones also returned to the lineup, in a midfield role.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-1-1): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden, Troy Roberts, Mike Randolph - Quavas Kirk (Carlos Pavon 65), Kevin Harmse (Peter Vagenas 67), Josh Tudela, Cobi Jones (Gavin Glinton 86) - Landon Donovan - Alan Gordon. Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Ante Jazic, Israel Sesay, Kyle Veris
• "Three points is very important at this point, I was happy with the win, we could have scored more goals, but I'm really happy that we were able to get three points at a crucial time," Yallop said.
TEAM NEWS
• Right now for the Galaxy, it's all about taking as many points as possible if they are to pull back into the playoff chase. The Galaxy are left with a maximum of 39 points attainable for the season, a figure already bested or matched by five teams. With the Chicago Fire in eighth place and the final playoff spot, any combination of eight points won by the Fire or lost by the Galaxy would eliminate LA.
• "We thought the game was there for us tonight. We have been playing pretty well lately, and sometimes the result hasn't gone for us," Chris Klein said. "As a group we have been very positive and Frank has been very positive. We are going to try and make the season interesting, we don't know what it's going to look like in the end, but good to get three points and at least move up the standings a little bit."
• While the back four remained intact, Josh Tudela was also given a start for a second successive game, just the third of his professional career.
• "We had young kids out there; Josh Tudela had a good game I thought. We had some good individual performances but most importantly, I thought it was collectively a good performance," Yallop said. "I thought the team tried very hard and got those three points that obviously are so crucial right now."
• For Cobi Jones, it was his 300th league appearance - all with the LA Galaxy. Jones, who is set to retire after the completion of the season, joined Steve Ralston, Chris Henderson and Jason Kreis as the only MLS players with 300 league appearances. Ralston leads the group with 333.
• "For myself it is pretty special to be part of the 300 (games played) club and to get 90 assists, I know that there are only a few of us that are there," Jones said. "It shows for myself the perseverance and the dedication I have had over the years and I am glad to be apart of a small, special group."
• Jones became just the fifth player to reach the 90-assist plateau, surpassing D.C. United's Jaime Moreno with the helper on the second LA goal. It is unlikely Jones will reach third overall - held by longtime D.C. United star Marco Etcheverry with 101.
• "Cobi did a very good job like he always does, to keep the ball still in play, and I was able to settle it down, get a hard strike on goal and put it on frame," Klein said of the equalizer, set by Jones.
• If the Galaxy do not qualify for the playoffs, Jones has the possibility of just six more appearances down the road. The club have an appreciation night for the dreadlocked winger set for Oct. 18 when they face the New York Red Bulls on MLS Primetime Thursday.
• "I am definitely savoring it, every single game is a different experience, and it is always a learning experience," Jones said. "I always take a little something away from each game; especially these last few. I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as possible."
• Still, Jones would like to prolong that as long as possible. "I am always one to believe if you have a chance you keep going and striving until it is all said and done," he said. "Since we have a chance I am still playing and hoping that we can make it in."
