CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena could have pointed to the officiating as the reason why his team lost Sunday to FC Dallas by 3-0.
He could have blamed his team’s inability to get a ball past FCD ‘keeper Kevin Hartman as the reason why the Galaxy will not be heading to Toronto for MLS Cup 2010.
Arena, however, said his team were flat-out beaten by the visitors.
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“Maybe a couple of calls didn’t go our way, but that’s part of it,” Arena said. “It’s no different in our league or any other league."
“There’s no excuses,” he continued. “We were out-played, beat on most matchups on the field, and we were out-coached.”
The Galaxy crashed out of the MLS Cup Playoffs in spectacular fashion, getting routed by FC Dallas at The Home Depot Center. In six previous home playoff games at The Home Depot Center, the Galaxy had allowed just two goals. That they were dominated by an FC Dallas team who had never before reached MLS Cup was ultimately not surprising.
“We weren’t sharp tonight. Our passing wasn’t good,” Arena said. “You can cut through all the BS – we got out-played on most of the matchups on the field, and when that happens, the chances of winning are not good.”
In the end, it was the play of former Galaxy star Hartman that kept LA from taking an early lead and running away with the match.
In the first half, the FCD goalkeeper denied his former club with four critical saves, including stops on Juninho, Landon Donovan and David Beckham.
“Hartman made a couple of outstanding saves in the first half. The one on Landon was unbelievable,” said Arena. “Those little plays make a difference."
“We had a chance to get on the scoreboard first but didn’t. I guess you’ve got to give Hartman an awful lot of credit. He made the plays to keep his team in the league and ultimately it won them the game.”
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