The Los Angeles Galaxy, champions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2001 and 2005, began the long road back to another title Tuesday with a 1-0 defeat of the Columbus Crew in a qualifier at Crew Stadium.
Nate Jaqua tapped in a Landon Donovan cross in the 17th-minute for the game's only goal. The Galaxy have to win one more qualifier to reach the tournament proper. They'll host the New York Red Bulls on May 8.
Though it wasn't a league match, there was no let up for either team Tuesday night. Each side attacked the game with fervor, as was evident by their combined 34 fouls and three yellow cards.
Adding to the intrigue was the level of familiarity between the two clubs, especially in the area of personnel. A number of the key components of the Crew attack are former Galaxy players, including Joseph Ngwenya, the Crew's leading goal-scorer last season, and Ned Grabavoy, who netted the first Columbus goal this season last Thursday against the New England Revolution.
In addition, Columbus head coach Sigi Schmid is the Galaxy's all time winningest coach, having led the team to their first U.S. Open Cup title and a victory in MLS Cup 2002.
In last year's only decisive contest between the two teams, Kyle Martino, then of the Crew, scored the winner, only to be traded later in the year to L.A. in the deal that sent Ngwenya and Grabavoy to Columbus.
Bill Gaudette started the game in goal for the Crew, and had a moment of indecision in the 14th minute when he hesitated in coming out of goal to play a ball crossed to Galaxy forward Nate Jaqua. Gaudette was fortunate that the ball skipped through the box and out of harm's way, but he appeared slightly shaken up on the play.
The Crew were less fortunate only three minutes later when an almost identical pass from Landon Donovan found Jaqua only yards from the goal and the Oregon native opened the scoring with an easy tap-in score.
Columbus was not without opportunities in the first half. Forward Andy Herron made his presence felt early and often, sending a dangerous pass through the box from the left wing in the 31st minute only to have a sliding Martino barely reach the ball first. Two minutes later Crew captain Duncan Oughton played a pass through the defense with great touch, only to see Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin reach the ball a half step before Herron.
Herron again forced Cronin into action only minutes later as he sent a free kick on goal, but it was harmlessly hauled in by the Galaxy netminder.
Crew goalkeeper Gaudette was relieved of his duties in the 34th minute, apparently unable to shake the impact with Jaqua earlier in the game. The Columbus training staff confirmed the injury, calling it a right quad contusion. Andy Gruenebaum replaced Gaudette, hoping to continue his success in 2007 that includes shutouts in his first two MLS games this year.
As the second half opened Herron continued to attack the goal, and in the 51st minute Crew forward Eddie Gaven found Herron alone in front of the Galaxy net. Unfortunately for the Crew, referee Erich Simmons ruled Herron offside, nullifying the potential equalizer.
In the 60th minute, Schmid brought forward Kei Kamara into the match for the Crew, replacing Gaven. Kamara was the hero of last week's game against New England, helping the Crew salvage a point from the match by netting the equalizing goal with only minutes to play. He had an immediate impact Tuesday, including a chance on goal only eight minutes after entering the match; however, his bouncing strike from 23 yards found the arms of Cronin.
Both teams substituted extensively in the second half, most likely because both teams play in MLS competition later this week. L.A. manage to work former national team icon Cobi Jones into the attack, and it almost paid off. In the 79th minute Jones fired a shot that found the side netting, and 10 minutes later the 36-year-old would likely have scored for the first time in competition this year if not for the outstretched arms of Gruenebaum.
The game ended in a flurry of chances for both sides, as the Crew moved into desperate attack mode, but the end result did not favor Columbus, and they are out of the hunt for the 2007 U.S. Open Cup.
Nathan Linton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
