2005 Western Conference Finals

You would think, as one who has watched much of this year's MLS season online at MLSnet.com, that I would have bookmarked the Sights and Sounds page so that I wouldn't have to go through the front page of the site and see the results of that days games before seeing them.

Such was the case tonight with the Western Conference Finals. I didn't see any headlines or scores, I only saw a picture of Landon and that was enough.

I still watched the match in it's entirety, mostly with the sound off because of the nauseating level of homering that Bretos and Hopkins exhibit in their broadcasts. Due to the lack of volume some of my observations may have been cleared up by the LA announcers.

Tonight was another example as to why Bryan Hall has lost his touch. He's like that old professor that has tenure and therefore is untouchable no matter how bad he is at his job. There were several calls that were questionable, ejections that should have been made and of course what would a playoff game be without a mysterious call that disallows a goal?

It was in around the 33rd minute and Pegero headed in a corner, but Hall called for the corner to be retaken. Was it explained as to what the call was?

Through out the match the Galaxy seemed to know exactly what to do in a conference final situation, and the Rapids as a whole did not. Cobi Jones carried the Gals on his shoulders for the first half. The old-timer did all the work on their first goal, where he beat a few people carried down the sideline and then sent a cross in to Landon for him to slide in front of his mark and knock it in.

During the second half LA seemed to absorb the Rapids while not applying any offensive pressure. They didn't seem to want another goal until the 87th minute when Landon received the ball just past half field and seemed to have this attitude of "let's see how far I can get through three defenders." If you didn't see it, you should. It was especially fun to watch somebody dribble through a defense that wasn't RSL.

With the 2-0 win LA are on their way to Frisco for the Cup against the winner of Sundays Eastern Conference Final.

The Galaxy knows exactly how to work the MLS system: Do just enough to get into the playoffs and then decide to play hard for about the last dozen games of the season.