The Los Angeles Galaxy don't have another regular season game on the schedule until Aug. 9. Between now and then the Galaxy will join the fray in the U.S. Open Cup, and then take a break like the rest of MLS for the All-Star Game.
This week however, the Green-and-Gold is scheduled to play an exhibition match against Mexican side Cruz Azul. The game will be played Wednesday night in Santa Barbara, Calif., a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles.
Two weeks ago the Galaxy took on another Mexican Primera Division team in Necaxa. The Galaxy used a squad made up almost exclusively of reserve players, and even played three "guest" players who were on trial with the club. The Galaxy fell 1-0 in that match.
That contest came in the midst of a very hectic portion of their regular season schedule, which prompted Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop to rest most of his starters. With no other games on the docket this week Yallop is taking a markedly different approach to the game.
"We'll have a good mixture of youth and experience out there. Everyone will get at least 45 minutes," said Yallop. "Hopefully (Kyle) Veris will go as long as he can. It'll be good for him to get some solid minutes under his belt."
Veris is coming off of an injury at just the right time for the Galaxy. The rookie defender had earned several minutes earlier in the season, and with Nathan Sturgis about to have surgery to repair a sports hernia, Veris is looking to break back into the starting 11.
Another player anxious to return to action is Chris Albright. Albright, along with Tyrone Marshall, missed the Galaxy's last game against Columbus due to yellow-card accumulation. The right back is looking forward to getting back in action.
"I'm going to try and go as long as I can. I don't know what Frank has planned," said Albright. "Missing last weekend, I'd like to get a good run in [Wednesday] night."
Despite the fact that the Mexican league has a decades-long head start ahead of MLS in terms of history, Albright feels these exhibition games are a good barometer to measure just how far along MLS is. "All these games are to gain respect for MLS. It's a bit of bragging rights," said Albright. "We're obviously rivals with Mexico and the Mexican league. It's a chance to show we're getting better every year as a league."
More and more, MLS teams are starting to gain the advantage over their neighbors to the south. Chivas USA just beat Club America in penalty kicks. FC Dallas hold a 2-0 aggregate lead over Tigres in the Rio Grande Plate. And now the Galaxy will try and add to the recent success that MLS teams have had over Mexican teams.
Still, while the Galaxy players and coaches admit that the game is important, they are quick to point out that in the grand scheme of things, league games are what matter most. Wednesday night's game will be a chance not only to gain respect internationally for the Galaxy, but also a chance to keep players sharp, and get younger players valuable minutes against quality competition.
"I want to give some people a chance to play. [Goalkeeper] Steve Cronin is going to play," said Yallop, mentioning just one of the reserves he plans on using Wednesday. "We take the game seriously. We'd like to win these games but the big picture is winning the league."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
