Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy had spent much of the current MLS season playing stingy defense and establishing itself as a legitimate MLS title contender.
At least before last night.
FC Dallas walked into Home Depot Center on Saturday and proceeded to dismantle Bruce Arena's squad as a combination of speed, impeccable service and defensive breakdowns by LA turned last night's Western Conference clash into a 6-3 blowout.
Yes, you read that right. The Galaxy, which hadn't allowed more than three goals all season (and only did that once), gave up six goals to FC Dallas. The six goals were the most ever allowed in Galaxy team history.
Here are the highlights of the nine-goal scoring exhibition:
What did you think of FC Dallas' blowout win? Just an off night for the Galaxy, or did FCD expose the Galaxy's defense as a slow unit vulnerable against speedy strikers? Still see the Galaxy doing damage in the post-season? Can you believe that's the same FC Dallas team that lost to the New York Red Bulls just three weeks ago?
Share your thoughts below.
headline should read “Beckham Chokes”
After all those misses it Should have been around 10-5 in favor of Dallas.
Eddie Lewis is slow? try watching Tony sanneh- ol’ molasses. he cant even play the center half half position. he looks a 45 year-old playing in the local old timey league. Tony even has a beer belly. What does he weigh about 225? That aint no soccer weight. Could Tony outrun ANY player in the NCAA? Not a frickin chance. Sanneh, the Gambian street hustler,remains the greatest enigma in the MLS. That the Galaxy/MLS would allow him to step on the field, shows they have zero respect for people that really follow the game. That sanneh would actually step on the field shows he is a classless scumbag who has no resepct for the MLS, soccer, team, nor himself.
Where was David Beckham all night? He wasn’t even in ONE single highlight.
sure are missing Kenny Cooper….
Land-O and Becks came back from a long week away at qualifiers. it’s expected that they’ll suck at the game. as for the rest, it’s already been said. Galaxy has no depth on the Defensive side.
i think they’ll do a lot better next week and make it to the playoffs
I was at the game yesterday night and I have to say I agree 100% with all the comments about the Galaxy playing the most laziest soccer I have ever seen, except any comments regarding Donovan, DeLagarza, Gonzalez, and especially Beckham. I have to say after yesterday’s display I cannot believe that Beckham didn’t hop on the first flight to Milan, because that defeat was so embarassing that the thought of changing my support to another team actually crossed my mind. I have been a galaxy fan since the league began in 96, so that is a big deal for me. I really believe the team needs to issue a refund to all galaxy fans that attended this game, and yes it really was that bad. I really hope they can bounce back with a win next week against TFC, but it will be tough. I think the least Arena could do look at some of the bench players with speed and hustle a shot at first team action. By the way, nobody mentioned how bad Eddie Lewis played last night, just for the record, it was very bad.
5 goals scored on the “great” tony sanneh. This guy hasnt played a real game in nearly 7 years. The germans old him he was finished. Yet the mls continues to pay and play him. He has playe about 5 games since his “return” to the MLS 5 years ago. How big is the kickback to the Coach? Sanneh couldnt play in the USL Pdl division. He couldnt play for the local amateur division. Yet he continues to collect a MLS paycheck. It is just pain sickening.
The showboating and celebrations of the players on FC Dallas was nauseating. By the sixth classless celebration, I was about to punch Cunningham for that incessant smirk on his face. And no I’m not a Galaxy fan
The celebrations from the Dallas players were wwaaayyyy over the top, though, especially on another team’s field. I have no love for LA, but I wanted to throttle all of those FCD guys.
That cross from McCarty was just magical and it reminded me of some of the service he provided against Nigeria. He should get capped in a January Sweden game.
With results like this, FCD should sign some more former SMU players to the roster.
Go Ponys!!!
@teach and Ed:
I think there’s a logical explanation for Beckham’s “choking” of a Dallas player. He was just checking his neck size to see if there was any point in exchanging shirts. I think he told the guy his neck was too fat for his shirt.
Shocking, and not so shocking. After considering the circumstances, it didn’t seem that shocking. The Galaxy have had to work on defense a lot and have made huge improvements. In fact, they have managed to play better defense than you would expect given their actual defenders. Tony Sanneh? Greg Berhalter? Sanneh always was a joke (with the Galaxy) and hasn’t played that much, but Berhalter is also quickly becoming a joke.
After losing their rookie of the year, Sean Franklin, you would have figured it would be pretty hard to improve the Galaxy’s defense too much, let alone turn it into the defensive force that they have been recently, but Delagarza has improved incredibly under Arena and they are obviously much more organized.
Losing Delagarza was the straw that broke the camel’s back. They WILL have problems now and it could mean the end of their season, which is a shame and bad luck. It’s also bad for Delagarza. I hope when he comes back he doesn’t go back to being the old Delagarza who was awful. He has really impressed lately and has helped immeasurably not just on defense, but on offense as well.
I must say I am getting sick of Beckham and will be glad to see him go. How is it he can play for England and A.C. Milan but can’t cut in MLS? I’m really beginning to wonder if he isn’t just running out his time. Sure he’s been running around like he’s really trying or working hard, but it almost seems like he’s doing it mindlessly to cover for his lack of contribution. I could have passed the ball MUCH better than Beckham did last night. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has grown tired of Beckham. His effect on crowds has dwindled to practically nothing. His face and demeanor would also suggest he’s counting the days.
@Ed I saw Beckham choking that player too and can’t believe there isn’t anything about the scuffle between the players at the end of the game. He had both hands on his neck and was definitely not massaging him. It was a confrontation between Landon and David Ferreira that started the whole thing. Strange thing is, after all was said and done, they exchanged uniforms… go figure.
As I was driving the 100 miles that I go to get to the HDC I was concerned about the recent signings of quality players by FCD and how that could translate into a long night for my beloved Galaxy.
Boy were my instints correct. LA was lazy and slow. They didn’t follow shots (except DeLaGarza) like MOST US players don’t, and they quit mid second stanza. If I wasn’t drinking beer with the British Army Corp of Engineer Soccer team and having a blast as they teamed with Riot Squad members and some new chants the night would have been a complete loss.
At any rate, Nicole, Beckham’s work rate EVERY night is better than 99% of the MLS players so cool your jets banging him for not working hard. I’ll take DB on any team for another year or two. I agree with the assessment of Miglioranzi, though.
Arena better figure out a way to speed up his defensive unit. They just didn’t look good last night.
Most shocking thing to me was Cunninghams unbelievable miss in the beginning, why can’t a team I root for ever be able to blow a chance like that and still win easily
The Galaxy gave up 6 against the Red Bulls a couple of years ago, I think they lost 6-5.
(SBI-You’re thinking of the 5-4 game NY won in Beckham’s first season.)
Chupacabra is spot on. Berhalter is deadly slow. Thats why he has two red cards for pulling folks down from behind. They keep running past him. Cunningham might not be as fast as he once was, but hes still waaaay faster than Berhalter.
Crazy … FC Dallas has been a joke for most of the season, but the last few weeks has shown that they were capable of a performance like this. After all these years, Jeff Cunningham clearly still has game — he’s been impressive. I have no explanation for LA’s performance. Shocking, but great if you’re a Sounders fan!
at least dallas was classy about it…
FCD is a very unpredictable young team. This is their second 6 goal performance of the year. They lead the league in scoring with 1.625 a game. If they can shore up their D next year they could be very dangerous. Both of the 6 goal games were in the post Cooper era. If they put that transfer money to good use they should be very good next year.
I don’t care what the lineup showed – until subs were made, Landon Donovan was the RM and Kirovski was the forward with Magee. Once subs were made – Klein? – then LD moved up to forward.
The problem with Galaxy in that game is too soft (and slow) center of the field. Becks and Migs just don’t play hard defense. And Becks game doesn’t fit in with what the Galaxy had been doing before he got here.
I long for his permanent move to AC Milan. Please, God, make it happen.
Einar- I don’t consider Dallas a legitimate threat, so it was actually pretty neutral. Unless the Galaxy lose all of their remaining games, they’re probably going to make it no matter what. I didn’t realize they had so many points; I thought they were in the 35 range, in which case the game would certainly have helped United.
I just finished watching the game. There is a lot of blame to go around but certainly Berhalter deserves a major share of the blame. He is simply too slow and consistently gets beat. He is also prone to committing stupid fouls in bad places. He’s a major liability, but he wasn’t alone to blame.
There were a lot of players that seemed to be standing around and leaving players wide open. The midfield didn’t come back and help the defense and often when they did they stood around.
The team consistently gave away cheap balls. There were few good break aways and those few usually resulted in giving FCD the ball. Also when a break away was on no one ran! Dallas was easily able to counter the Galaxy defense doubling attackers in the middle because the Galaxy was constantly trying walk the ball in to the net. Beckham needs to do something besides cross the ball. How do teams defend a Galaxy attack when Beckham has the ball? Double the open Galaxy player or the player on the far side of the field because that’s where Beckham is going and he won’t do anything else with it.
The Galaxy need forwards who can score. Kirovski and Magee aren’t them. Magee was listed as a forward with LD and both were spent too much time in front the Galaxy net playing defense. The best way to defend is to attack as FCD did. Put the game out of reach so that even if the other team scores they can’t score enough to win. Second way to defend against a Galaxy attack – if LD has the ball double or triple team so he can’t get a pass off because he rarely shoots on goal. If you’re unable to slow him down than foul him because there are no Galaxy players dangerous enough to beat you.
Is the trade window closed? It appears Sean Franklin may have to come back and play as a center back in place of Berhalter.
Sort of amusing: I tivo’d the game and accidentally didn’t leave enough time. Recording ended around the 83rd minute, FC Dallas up 3 – 2. I figured, well, I’m sure I didn’t miss much I’m sure….
Opposition speed and Belhatler are a concern for LA. But they also had numerous chances to score and could have taken the wind out of Dallas. I’m a Buddle fan and think if he gets back in the line up at the expense of Jovan, they can take some pressure off the defense.
how did it help united again? more like it endangered d.c. becuz u guys needed dallas to lose
Wow. I have to admit, that scoreline made me jump a little. But hey, it helped United, so it’s all good.
Hahahahahahahahaha.
*wipe tars from eyes*
Hahahahahahahahahaha.
And another thing, was Beckham choking that FCD player at the end of the game? =O
Well it looks like the Heath Pearce signing has really fired up Dallas 🙂
One word: Berhalter.
He was abused last night, to make matters worse delagarza picked up an injury.
And with the Sanneh/Berhalter combo on the pitch for the last half, it’s no wonder Dallas scored four goals. Even the cast of Cocoon could have placed three in the back of the net.
Ives, why don´t you put the mls playoff standings on the front page of your site?
Two words can explain this disaster: Greg Berhalter
What Arena sees in him is a mystery.
One bad game. No big deal.
I’m looking at the FCD roster, and they should be a lot better than their record shows. They’re going to be crazy good next year if everyone stays and gels…
Speed will kill LA in the playoffs… I would not want to play fc Dallas right. Dc United got lucky with diver boy.
crazy scoreline…LAG’s D has been very organized all year but they got torn apart and looked very leaky on those goals.
they get TFC next week, likely with Julian DeGuzman bossing the center of midfield. let’s see what happens
Well all the teams now know who to attach in the LA back line and it is not the rookie.
Absolute shocker.
I know its just one game, but it does make you wonder if this LA team, mainly the D, will stand up to the pressure of the playoffs.