One Game Changes Everything

- By J.D. Smith

Nicholas Addlery had his way with the Galaxy back line.

Just hours after I wrote 1500 words about why MLS fans shouldn’t put much stock in the Kansas City win over Manchster United, The Puerto Rico Islanders made the case better than I ever could. A second division side came into the home of the MLS leaders, and in fact, a team that has had one of the most dominant first halves EVER in MLS, and laid them out. It wasn’t a dominant performance by Puerto Rico at first, but they got the usual inspired performances from Bill Gaudette and Nicolas Addlery (who have been giant killers over the years for PRI in Champions League) and the goals just kept coming, as the Islanders win going away 4-1 at the Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy, a team that many were saying had the first real chance to go toe-to-toe with the Mexican giants that no doubt would be looming in later rounds, has fatally wounded their chances at home against a team that is full of MLS washouts and CONCACAF never-weres. After falling down 2-0, color man Paul Caliguiri made the point that this will really test the Galaxy to see what they are made of. What we saw was a team that just couldn’t put forth an effort that was able to overcome the Islanders.  Bruce Arena earlier in the season lamented the fact that the U.S. Open Cup has to be played in the middle of MLS’s grueling season. But while the Galaxy are going to be one of the most-represented teams at tonight’s MLS All-Star game, Bruce and Co. surely know that no combination of starters and backups they could put together should be bad enough that they give up 4 road goals to an inferior team in a meaningful game. The preference has to be given to the tournament games, not exhibition games that have higher-paying sponsors but are ultimately meaningless.

Meanwhile, MLS has been telling us that the Wizards win over Manchester United shows the quality that’s in our league. And maybe it does. But if this win was one of the gratest in MLS history, where does this Galaxy loss stand? Is it one of the worst? Or is it just another case of MLS teams not being able to live up to expectations in the CONCACAF Champions League?

Whatever it says, here’s the story from the Galaxy loss: this Puerto Rico Islanders team know how to win big games in Champions League. They do it by never giving up, and always playing hard. There was no heart form the Galaxy on Tuesday night, and they certainly didn’t put out their best lineup. No doubt that’s the argument MLS would make to it’s would-be detractors – the Galaxy were not playing all of their best players, they were focused on winning the league, the game is ultimately meaningless. (Oh wait sorry; all of those are arguments Manchester United fans could make about their loss against Kansas City. That last one doesn’t work for the Galaxy).

At least the Galaxy have a chance to come back (well in theory, anyway). But MLS will hopefully have learned it’s lesson from putting too much stock into one result. I hope…