If the personnel that took the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy's first official preseason match Wednesday was a glimpse of what's to come -- missing David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Donovan Ricketts -- then coach Bruce Arena and team followers might not have much to worry about.
The Galaxy's 2-0 win against Japanese club Oita Trinita in the nightcap of the opening night Pan-Pacific Championship doubleheader at The Home Depot Center might not be an indication of things to come. It could be too early to tell what the team will look like when it opens the 2009 Major League Soccer campaign March 22 against D.C. United.
The Galaxy caught a couple of breaks resulting in both of their goals. Edson Buddle scored in the 44th minute and Jovan Kirovski converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute to help the tournament host team clinch a slot in Saturday's championship match against South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings, 1-0 victors against Shandong Luneng Taishan FC of China in the opening game.
The Galaxy caught a break late in the first half when Oita Trinita captain Daiki Takamatsu missed a slow rolling pass deep in his own territory, catching him by surprise.
Buddle took advantage and intercepted the rolling ball. He dashed up the left side of the pitch with only the goalkeeper to beat. That was Shusaku Nishikawa who tried closing Buddle's shooting angle. It didn't work.
The Galaxy's forward squeezed a left-footed shot between the right post and a diving Nishikawa's right hand, finding the net for the opening score.
Kirovski cashed in on the penalty kick after referee Kevin Stott whistled a Trinita defender for holding Galaxy defender Tony Sanneh in the penalty area, keeping him from chasing a centered pass. Replays showed Trinita's Roberto De Figueiredo giving Sanneh a slight pull. Oita players protested the call to no avail.
Kirovski sent a powerful right-footed shot to the left of Nishikawa for the Galaxy's second goal.
After a porous defense allowed an MLS-high 62 goals in its 2008 campaign, Arena made it a priority to toughen up his back line. He stocked up with a list of players with size and some muscle.
Arena drafted 6-foot-5, 210-pound defender Omar Gonzalez and signed Tony Sanneh (6-2, 195). The team released Leo Bautista (6-3, 175) earlier this month; Arena said Bautista didn't seem to fit and was not ready for the MLS brand of play.
Gonzalez and Sanneh seemed to blend in with Sean Franklin and team captain and veteran Eddie Lewis, keeping the Oita Trinita attack at bay for most of the match.
Trinita's clearest chance at goal came in the 59th and 70th minute. Pereira Ueslei Raimund sent a curving shot just above the crossbar on a free kick from about two yards out of the penalty area.
Shingo Suzuki blasted a left-footed shot inches from the left pole and a diving Galaxy goalkeeper, Josh Wicks, who started in place of Ricketts.
Ricketts missed the game against the defending J-League champions while nursing a tight hamstring. He practiced Tuesday but felt he wasn't ready to go.
Ivan Orozco is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
