Galaxy Take on the Sleazebags of FC Dallas

By: Laurie | September 23rd, 2007

Remember back in the preseason when I was joking about creating a rivalry and using a rational process to decide on a team to hate? (I am still amazed at how many people took me seriously.)

Well, this rational decision-making process is no longer necessary. I have found my team to hate. My feelings can now be summed up in three words.

I. Hate. Dallas.

I wasn’t real crazy about them before they came to Seattle for the US Open Cup game on Sept. 4. I find their style of play boring and their ethics questionable. (And yes, I am fully aware of the irony of a Galaxy fan calling another team’s play boring. Although we’re really not boring this year. We’re just bad.)

When Dallas came to Seattle earlier this month, though, they created a whole new definition for the word “sleaze.” They played the game of a team who know they’re not good enough to win on quality of play, so they have to win through slimy behavior. Fortunately for them, they somehow managed to get a ref who had apparently been given instructions to make sure that a USL side didn’t advance. He allowed Dallas to get away with whatever they wanted, from obvious red- and yellow-card fouls to every player and his dog rolling around on the ground faking injury to draw calls and eat up the clock. (The best summary of the match that I’ve read is found here.)

The center referee in this match was shocking. Fouls weren’t called very often on Dallas, and yellow cards weren’t given for obvious take-downs. It wasn’t until late in regular time when the first yellow card was given, and the only red card given was for dissent after [Seattle player] Noah Merl may or may not have asked the ref how much money he had on the game. That sure seemed like a valid question.

Yes, it was bad and disappointing for my Sounders, but it was even worse for the image of soccer in America. This team and their behavior does the country no favors.

And so I’m finding myself wishing that the Galaxy could have just one more good game in them. If only they could win this one and start a domino effect that would eventually lead to FC Dallas being knocked out of playoff contention. Is that still mathematically possible? In my dreams it is.

Injury report:

LOS ANGELES GALAXY – OUT: DF Chris Albright (R hamstring); MF David Beckham (R knee); QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (L hamstring); DF Quavas Kirk (L foot); DF Abel Xavier (L knee); PROBABLE: FW Alan Gordon (L foot); MF Kelly Gray (R calf); MF Kevin Harmse (R knee); DF Ante Jazic (R ankle); MF Peter Vagenas (L quad); DF Kyle Veris (R hip)

And, yes, your link to the Game Guide.

THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, Carson, Calif. 5 p.m. PT (HDNet; FSN-W; FSN-SW; MLSLIVE.tv
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