After a second consecutive 3-0 loss, the LA Galaxy's locker room was as joyless as Mudville after mighty Casey whiffed at three pitches. And though head coach Frank Yallop could identify an individual mistake that led to each of the three goals, the biggest mistake in his estimation seemed to be the decision to play the game at all.
"We had eight starters out," Yallop said. "We've got guys that are playing injured. People don't know that. I'm not trying to protect the players, but I have to tell the truth. It's ridiculous. We should have called this game off. But we can't. We have to play it, and away we go."
David Beckham's absence with an ankle injury after playing 180 minutes of soccer in England and California last Wednesday and Thursday had dominated the news in Colorado, but the Galaxy were also missing Landon Donovan (calf), Chris Albright (hamstring), Kelly Gray (calf), Ty Harden (hip), Ante Jazic (ankle) and Abel Xavier (knee), all of whom stayed in California in hopes of recuperating in time for LA's SuperLiga final on Wednesday.
Additionally, Kevin Harmse was unavailable due to a suspension.
Never mind putting together an alternate game plan with so many bench players on the field Sunday night. Yallop was lucky to field a team, playing with only five available substitutes (when allowed seven).
"We had no training sessions to get ready for the game, so we tried to talk about things before the match that were going to help us in the game," Yallop said. "We have five or six guys that are injured that played today, and they shouldn't be playing. They played, and in the end it cost you the game. We should call it off, but you can't."
Despite their SuperLiga success, the Galaxy have struggled in a seven-game league winless streak that now includes five consecutive losses and three matches in a row in which they've allowed at least three goals. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon was quick to accept responsibility for the uncharacteristic let-up.
"It's been rough," Cannon said. "As the goalkeeper, taking a lot of goals, you have to look at yourself and go back to the drawing board and reassess exactly what I'm doing as far as leading the guys in front of me and what I'm doing in training and preparing for those games. I've felt, for the last month, I was playing all right, I was happy with my game, but then the last few games, for whatever reason, it just isn't coming together for us.
"I always feel, if there's fingers to point, you can point them in this direction," he continued. "I'm one of the older guys and one of the guys who gets paid fairly well by this team and a guy that was brought in here to make changes. Fans are looking to blame people. My job is to not let goals in."
Nevertheless, there were shortcomings throughout the field, before the ball ever got to Cannon, and playing with such a shorthanded lineup forced an abundance of bench players simultaneously into heightened roles Sunday. As much as they loathe looking for excuses, there was no denying that their challenging schedule combined with a hard match on a hot day a mile above sea level on the biggest field in MLS served as something of a double-whammy for Galaxy.
"Especially with guys that aren't fit, guys that haven't played in so long," Cannon said, noting the challenge of jumping from the bench to 90 minutes for a match at altitude in Colorado. "We've picked up a rash of injuries in the last handful of games, for sure. But we're all tired of excuses. Championship teams aren't built on them, so let's get rid of them."
Conor Casey's 26th-minute goal on its own was not enough to take the wind of L.A.'s sails, despite the fact that the Rapids had dominated the field prior to the goal. But heading into the half down by three made for a daunting challenge.
"I think we were just not confident enough," Cannon said. "It's little things that separate us from the other team every game. It's not just one little thing, it's a handful of little things. Obviously we didn't do a good enough job, to let in three goals in the first half. Even at one goal, you have to look and say, 'we need to stop and come into halftime just a goal down. We can't let in two other goals.'
"Give the Rapids some credit," he continued, praising his former team. "They're on a good run. It's tough, but I'm tired of making excuses. I'm going to start just blaming myself. That way at least I know I can go to bed at night rather than looking for the answers. I'll look into myself for them."
It's a game Galaxy will try to put behind them as quickly as possible as they prepare for Wednesday's SuperLiga championship game at home against Pachuca. But if nothing else, a good portion of their bench went through an initiation by fire, and perhaps the challenges they endured on the field Sunday will pay dividends down the road.
"There were a lot of guys who showed some character and determination when we were down at half 3-0," midfielder Kyle Martino pointed out. "They came out and still created some chances, and I commend these guys for that."
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
