Restart Opportunity

by Steve De Rose
October 4, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)

The Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) won the 2005 Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup with a 1-0 victory against F.C. Dallas (MLS) on Wednesday night, 28 September at Victoria Station in Carson, CA.

This marks the second time that Los Angeles has won the U. S. Open Cup, having taken the Cup in 2001, also at home, versus the New England Revolution (MLS). Los Angeles lost the 2002 Open Cup Final away to the Columbus Crew (MLS).

Dallas had won their only prior appearance in the Open Cup Final in 1997 in Indianapolis, IN. (as the Dallas Burn), when they defeated D.C. United (MLS) on penalty kicks.

Los Angeles' Herculez Gomez sunk the game-winning goal in the 25th minute with a beautifully executed side volley from twelve yards out as Chris Albright managed to elude a clumsy shepherding effort by Dallas' David Wagenfuhr near the touchline on the right side of the penalty box. D. Wagenfuhr should have played the ball over the end line for the corner kick. Instead, he wound up allowing Albright to make the cross which found Gomez.

Dallas' effort hit a stumbling block in the sixth minute. Midfielder Ronnie O'Brien was fouled by Los Angeles' Marcelo Saragosa, who kneed him in the lower back. R. O'Brien tried to play through the injury, but was invisible on the pitch thereafter. He was substituted out in the 54th minute.

"We missed his energy and life in the middle of the park," uttered Dallas coach Colin Clarke.

Dallas was without Ed Johnson, who was expected to miss the match; and ex-Galaxy player Carlos Ruiz, who failed a pre-game fitness test.

Dallas made all of its four allotted substitutions before Los Angeles made its first.

Without O'Brien's participation, F.C. Dallas appeared adrift for offensive ideas. The sole forward in their 4-5-1 formation, Ecuadorian international Roberto Mina was the forgotten warrior. The Galaxy did not dominate play, but the bulk of the match saw the ball on the foot of one of their players.

Dallas goalkeeper Scott Garlick was called upon to make six saves. His Los Angeles counterpart, Kevin Hartman, made only one, a desperation header from far beyond the threatening range for such by Dallas' Mark Wilson, in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Los Angeles could have sealed the match's result in the 75th minute. A bad backpass was contended, and then captured by Gomez, who bypassed Garlick on the left side of the penalty box, but struck his shot against the left post.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gomez's misfire prevented him from becoming the top goal-scorer of the 2005 U. S. Open Cup tournament. He wound up sharing this honor with Melvin Tarley, who scored six goals for the Minnesota Thunder (USL1) and is now on the roster of MLS' Real Salt Lake.

Los Angeles head coach Steve Sampson remarked, "You can see how hard we worked tonight."

"We've had troubles all season long with a lack of concentration toward the end of the game. Tonight, we did not show that. We played with a lot more intelligence. Cobi Jones and Landon Donovan - their experience led to the victory at the end. The guys played with a lot more concentration and a lot more wisdom than we have at previous matches."

Los Angeles took home the $100,000 prize as champion, while Dallas received $50,000 as the runners-up.

Scoring Summary:     1    2    F
F.C. Dallas          0    0    0          
Los Angeles Galaxy   1    0    1
Scoring:
Los Angeles - Herculez Gomez (Chris Albright) 25'
Lineups:
Los Angeles (Nike®: Gold | Green): 22-Kevin Hartman; 5-Chris Albright, 
2-Todd Dunivant, 15-Ugo Ihemelu, 14-Tyrone Marshall; 10-Landon Donovan, 
13-Cobi Jones, 8-Pete Vagenas, 99-Marcelo Saragosa; 16-Herculez Gomez 
(3-Michael Umana, 91+'), 18-Joseph Ngwenya (21-Alan Gordon, 94+').
Subs not used: 11-Ned Grabavoy, 12-Troy Roberts, 17-Guillermo Ramirez, 
29-Ednaldo da Conceicao
Head Coach: Steve Sampson
Dallas (adidas®: Red | White hoops): 1-Scott Garlick; 26-Clarence Goodson, 
19-Bobby Rhine (5-Steve Jolley, 86'), 21-Greg Vanney, 16-David Wagenfuhr; 
12-Arturo Alvarez (25-Abe Thompson, 69'), 11-Ramon Nunez, 6-Ronnie O'Brien 
(8-Oscar Pareja, 53'), 3-Carey Talley (27-Aaron Pitchkolan, 53'), 
15-Mark Wilson; 9-Roberto Mina.
Subs not used: 4-Chris Gbandi, 14-Drew Moor
Head Coach: Colin Clarke
Stats Summary: Los Angeles  Dallas
Shots                18        9 
Saves                 1        6 
Corner Kicks          6        8 
Fouls                16       23 
Offsides              4        0 
Discipline:
Dallas: Bobby Rhine 9' (caution - reckless foul)
Dallas: Clarence Goodson 59' (caution - reckless foul)
Dallas: Mark Wilson 59' (caution - game disrepute) (dead ball scuffle)
Los Angeles: Joseph Ngwenya 59' (caution - game disrepute) (dead ball scuffle)
Los Angeles: Herculez Gomez 69' (caution - pushing and holding)
Officials:
Referee: Arkadiusz Prus
Senior Assistant Referee: Nathan Clement
Junior Assistant Referee: Kermit Quisenberry
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo

I thank Mr. Patrick Donnelly of the Galaxy for his assistance and accommodations for this match.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In other soccer news: the Major Indoor Soccer League will compete the 2005-06 season with six teams. The "drop dead" date for the Cleveland Force franchise came and went. Last year's runners-up will not return, and their link on the official League World-Wide Web site has been commented out.

A more surprising development was the request by the Kansas City Comets to suspend active play for both this season and 2006-07. The Comets hope to return to the League when a new facility in Olathe, KS. opens in Autumn 2007. The League approved the "extraordinary" maneuver. Both teams' players were dispersed to the remaining League franchises on September 23.

With Cleveland's dissolution, the Saint Louis Steamers have hired Omid Namazi to be their new head coach. He replaces Daryl Doran, who, at age 42, is contemplating retirement as a player.

The Seattle Sounders won the United Soccer League's first division (Division II) championship on Saturday, 1 October, defeating the Richmond Kickers by 2-1 on penalty kicks after extra time (4-3 on penalties). An astounding penalty round saw the Sounders having a 2-0 lead after the first two innings, then miss their next two kicks which allowed the Kickers to equalize. In the fifth inning, the Sounders' Taylor Graham had his salvo saved by Kickers' goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale. Richmond's Kevin Jeffrey could have won the championship for the Kickers, but his shot missed the net. The shootout went to a seventh inning. Seattle's Scott Jenkins made his kick. Pascale took his turn then, and he missed the net, giving Seattle the victory. Both teams were surprise finalists, having upset the higher-seeded Montreal Impact and the Rochester Raging Rhinos, respectively, in the semi-finals.

The United Soccer Leagues announced its first division awards. Montreal Impact head coach Nick DeSantis was named the USL1 coach of the year. Jason Jordan of the Vancouver Whitecaps was the league's most valuable player. The Sounders' Taylor Graham achieved the defender of the year honor. The Puerto Rico Islanders' Dan Kennedy was acclaimed at the rookie of the year. The goalkeeper played every minute of the season for the Islanders, compiling a 10-10-8 record, which included five shutouts.

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from October 4, 2005

• Chivas, Santos announce squad lists for Sunday's hurricane benefit in Santa Barbara - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
• Chivas USA weekly report - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
• Restart Opportunity - OSC Original by Steve De Rose
• Galaxy and Verizon Wireless team up for line of hope - LA Galaxy
• Metrostars Bob Bradley relieved of head coaching duties - New York Red Bulls

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.