It's been a common theme for the Los Angeles Galaxy all year long. They play well for about a half, sometimes longer, but at some point there are breakdowns in the back and they are punished for them.
The same formula resulted in the Galaxy's 3-1 loss Sunday to Houston Dynamo. The Galaxy played the Dynamo even over the first half, but 10 seconds into the second half a defensive miscue led to a penalty kick, and the Galaxy were derailed from that point on. A second mistake later in the half sealed their fate, and against a team like the defending MLS Cup champions, two mistakes rarely go unpunished.
It's been a frustrating year for Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop, and with the youth that he's been forced to put out on the field due to injuries, mistakes are bound to happen. What's been difficult to swallow is the fact that players aren't taking responsibility for their mistakes.
"We're absolutely so naïve with our fight and our will to do better. We just accept that a goal's gone in and people don't take responsibility," said Yallop. "A lot of times, to me, you have to make sure that you feel that something is your fault."
Yallop isn't the type of coach to point fingers or single anyone out. Even in the locker room after the game there was little argument that some players aren't taking the losses as personally as they should.
"You just have to hope that everyone goes home and kind of lets this hurt a little bit," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "I think there are some people around here, you get the feeling that they don't, and that's the most frustrating part. I didn't have a summer this year, and there are a lot of guys that feel like that, but there are some that don't."
The second half was clearly dominated by Houston, as the Galaxy rarely moved the ball into a threatening position over the final 45 minutes of play. According to Yallop it had a lot to do with giving away an early goal to open the second stanza. With the season the Galaxy have endured, the wind clearly left their sails, and allowed Houston to storm past them.
"That obviously gave them a great start to the second half. Seconds in and we're 2-1 down at home," said Yallop. "We start to drop our heads because of the season we've had, and it makes it hard."
It's difficult to pinpoint blame on the two players whose mistakes led to the two Houston goals in the second half. Both are rookies, and likely would not have seen a lot of first team action this season had the Galaxy been healthy all year long. Mike Randolph was called for a foul in the box which resulted in a penalty kick just seconds into the second half. Ty Harden stopped on a ball later in the half that allowed Ricardo Clark to walk in on net and score Houston's third goal.
"(Randolph) tried to let the ball run out of play, makes a bad decision. I think the foul was outside the box to start with and once he gets in the box he has to let him go," said Yallop. "If (Randolph) keeps grabbing him it's going to end up a penalty kick."
The third goal was tougher to swallow. Two players pulled up on a ball played behind them into the area, leaving Cannon on an island. Clark got on the end of a ball he really had no business getting to and tucked the ball past the Galaxy 'keeper with little trouble.
"It's just no one takes initiative. Everyone seems to stop and it leaves their player just to go in and finish it," said Yallop. "It's obviously disappointing."
With eight losses in their last nine games and just four wins on the season, reaching the playoffs is becoming more unrealistic by the day. There is a chance to at least finish the season strong, but to do that, the Galaxy will need to eliminate the mental errors that plagued them once again.
"I'm disappointed, really disappointed. I thought we were playing well. It's the same feeling I've had in other games," said Landon Donovan. "I felt that we've played well in other games, we just make big mistakes, and it costs us."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
