Unbeleivable!!!!

Remember this day my friend, so when you are asked where you were when the US Men's National Team emerged from the darkness of world football and rose up to end a record tying streak, defeat the top ranked team in the world and end the long held misconception that this is not a great soccer nation. The men in red,white and blue, with one common mission and one common national seal worn like a badge of honor across their chest have done great things. Forever will the names Altidore, Dempsey, Howard, De Merrit, Onyewu, Spector, Bocanegra, Clark, Bradley, Davies and Donovan be placed beside those of Preki and Keller in 1998 and Gaetjens, Columbo, Maca and Wallace in 1950. It was on this day of 23 June 2009 eleven men representing the United States of America were besieged by the great nation of Spain, and stood tall, took every shot the Spanish giants could muster for the full ninety, in a country half way around the globe and proved that soccer is indeed alive and well in the good ol' US of A.

Now let's take a moment for a little perspective. Is the equal to the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team? No, and I don't think anyone of sound judgement would argue that it is. But none the less it is a feet so rarely accomplished in human history that it has been noted on the front pages of non sports websites and broadcasts. Spain fired nineteen shots, only eight found there way to goaltender Tim Howard. The USA defenders were throwing themselves in front of every ball they could, sacrificing themselves in the name of victory and this great nation. As a team they successfully fended off seventeen corners, seventeen!!! It got to a point were Spain had tried every imaginable way of attacking from a corner kick and just played the ball in to maintain possession. And once again the US had to battle with bias officials who called the game in favor of the European power as opposed to the lowly regarded team from CONCACAF. Any call that was remotely questionable was called in favor of Spain. And the straight red card shown to Michael Bradley was extremely soft for an international tournament.

All told the words of Francis Scott Key seem as poignant as ever... "the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE." And let me tell you, our star-spangled banner was waving all over and OUR team, a team every man, woman, and child who calls themselves American should be proud of, was indeed brave.

Brutal, Physical, Scoreless

The Galaxy survived early and late domination by Chivas USA to earn a draw from Saturday nights contest at the Home Depot Center. A nearly sold out crowd saw an entertaining, extremely physical, and scoreless "SuperClassico". Which is by far the greatest soccer rivalry in the States. Six yellow cards and three red cards should tell you exactly how heated this LA derby has become over the years. Although there were no riots in the stands, this time, so it has become clear that security has learned from past mistakes or the two sides fans have begun to accept and co-exist with each other. Or maybe the staff just watered down the beer.

The first half began with a Chivas side coming out and beating on the Galaxy at every chance. No Galaxy player was played the ball with out a hard challenge following soon after. The goats controlled the flow of play for most of the fist 35 minutes or so forcing Donovan Ricketts to make a couple of brilliant saves to keep the home side level. Jesse Marsh completely choked one from three feet out that Ricketts tipped over the bar. Kljestian put a shot on from distance that Ricketts made look easy. Ricketts who was making his Galaxy debut certainly earned man of the match on the night. Making a total of five saves overall. I'm not sure but that may be more saves than Josh Saunders made all year!!!

The first half ended with the sending off of former Galaxy and current Chivas midfielder Paolo Nagamura on a second yellow for pulling down Landon Donovan. The second half began with Alan Gordon (who still sucks) being issued a second yellow and shown the red card door. After that it was more Chivas on the ball playing keep away from the out matched stadium rivals. Both teams settled in for what was clearly going to be a tie game. right up until new defender Greg Berhalter gave away the ball and essentially a break away to Elecko Eskadarian and had to pull him down from behind, earning himself a straight red card. From that point on it was the goats game to lose. Enter the Galaxy Defenders, they shielded Ricketts and with the exception of one shot from distance that was no problem for the MLS player of the week (just announced) the match finished a classic nil-nil draw.

Same Old Galaxy...

I want you to hold up one finger, it doesn't matter which one, it could be your thumb or index finger or heck even your middle would work in this situation. Now take a good hard look at that one finger and realize that is how many redeeming things you can take away from the Galaxy loss to Colorado on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center. Rookie center back Omar Gonzalez scored his first MLS goal that levelled the score at one going in to the break. Once again the Galaxy started slow, really, really slow as renowned Galaxy killer Connor Casey score a tap in off a soft cross that should have been played by keeper Josh Saunders just 17 seconds (yes 17 seconds) in to the game. It was a play that made Galaxy fans long for the days of Steve Cronin in goal and Chris Klein at right back. That should have been taken as an omen by the 17,000 or so in attendance( man is it dropping faster that the Dow).

What started as the worst opening to a match in LA Galaxy history ended up being the absolute worst defensive and goal keeping performances the squad has put together under Bruce Arena. Tony Sanneh made one mistake after another all night, and he is supposed to be the leader of the defense, Sean Franklin gave away the ball on what led to the game winning goal and Eddie Lewis didn't even go the full 90. The saddest part of all is that the Colorado Rapids tend to be a defensive minded team that will not allow many shots and hope to win one or two to nil off counter attacks. The defensive stout Rapids only allowed two shots on goal, and lucky for the Galaxy Preston Burpo sucked enough that both scored. Although to be fair he had no chance on the Gonzalez goal. The second Galaxy goal came off a beautiful 25 yard run up the right side by Franklin, and as he cut towards the middle he found Landon Donovan who then laid it gift wrapped to Alan Gordon (that is the only way he would ever be able to finish). That goal gave the team and fans a sense of hope, for two freakin minutes. TWO minutes, I mean can I get just a little defense. I am not asking them to be Italy in the World Cup or anything, but come on how about at least marking your man Tony Sanneh so he doesn't get a break away. I don't think that is too much to ask, and if you can't do it that it is time to be retired, again! Both the tying and winning goals for the Rapids were scored when Connor Casey made suspected offsides runs in one on one with the hapless and saveless Saunders (again not a typo, the half wit keeper made ZERO freakin saves tonight). A few other mistakes in coming off his line in timid fashion led to a couple of Rapids firing shots wide of goal. Because obviously if the were on goal they would have scored and the score would not have been so close.

Now for the ghosts of Lalas past. Ugo Ihemelu played his 100th MLS game Saturday in the place were it all began for him, as he played his first 54 games as the heart of the Galaxy defensive center. Ty Harden played a little tonight, but back in 2007 he was the Galaxy defender of the year. And last year when the Galaxy was sitting atop the allocation list and Corey Gibbs name became available they passed on him. Give Alexi Lalas and the poor referee Michael Kennedy (he gave Dema Kovalenko a strait red card on a one footed hard challenge that maybe warranted a yellow) an assist on the Rapids win Saturday. Minor props to Landon Donovan for getting his 70th and 71st career assists. The two side play again in Open Cup play on Tuesday, but don't expect either side to field there A teams.