By Ridge Mahoney
Senior Editor
Soccer America Magazine
REAL THING: The 5-0 scoreline that Real Madrid put on the MLS all-stars Tuesday night might have flattered the Spanish giant, but only a bit.
In front of a home crowd, which whistled when the lead was only 2-0, the Galacticos turned up the intensity much higher than they had last month in cruising past the Galaxy, 2-0, at Home Depot Center.
True, even if the MLS contingent hadnÆt been fatigued from matches last weekend and jet-lagged after a cross-Atlantic jaunt, the glaring difference between the teams in pace, strength, acumen and toughness would not have been lessened to any real degree. Only Jeff Cunningham, Youri Djorkaeff and Shalrie Joseph seemed to possess the tenacity and talent to rattle Real. Ronnie OÆBrien had a few good moments. Matt Reis saved well several times.
The sight of Ronaldo gliding effortlessly past Pablo Mastroeni and later shrugging off Jimmy Conrad to score, the move by which Raul befuddled Jose Burciaga, the dink that Raul lifted over Reis to close the scoring û world-class, all the way.
The MLS Select players couldnÆt win, either way. Logistics and conflicts with the U.S. Open Cup kept some of the top players home, not that the cream of the current crop would have done much better.
Many players expressed a preference to stay with their teams, thus opening themselves up to criticism for lack of ambition and snubbing a glorious opportunity to play in one of the sportÆs cathedrals. By playing on jet-lagged legs with one day of training, they were guaranteed a very public thumping.
A lose-lose situation, all the way, except that perhaps Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Conrad, Mastroeni and the rest will never again believe for even a second that playing for your country or winning an MLS Cup is as high as you can go. ThatÆs why DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, Brian McBride, Bobby Convey, Eddie Lewis, Claudio Reyna and John OÆBrien werenÆt eligible. REF WATCH: Tackling Jaime Moreno in the penalty area is a high-risk venture, as Galaxy rookie defender Ugo Ihemelu found out last weekend in the D.C. United-Galaxy game.
Moreno glided into the box on the left side and showed just enough of the ball to entice Ihemelu into leaving his feet. As he did so, Moreno tapped the ball away with outside of his left foot and Ihemelu scythed his legs.
Referee Jair Marrufo pointed to spot amid furious Galaxy protests. Ihemelu, incensed, didnÆt realize heÆd failed to touch the ball because of MorenoÆs trickery. HeÆs not the first.
On a different note, although fans hoot and laugh when a referee hits the deck, the officials themselves most dread being hit by the ball and thus inadvertently affecting play.
Which is why Michael Kennedy deserves credit for scampering out of the way as a deflected ball rolled into the path of Francisco Palencia in the Metros-Chivas game last Sunday.
Referees are advised not to take up positions in the middle of the field, and if they do, they must be especially alert. Kennedy beat a fast retreat as soon as he spotted Palencia winding up. The Mexican international rifled a low shot past Tony Meola for his second goal.
A ball striking the referee in the field of play remains in play, and no ref wants to make a notation of his role in the scoring of a goal.