For the first few months, the Los Angeles Galaxy established themselves as the top team in Major League Soccer this season.

But Real Salt Lake reminded the Galaxy and the rest of the league who the defending MLS Cup champions are.

Bruce Arena's Galaxy fell 1-0 to Jason Kreis's Real Salt Lake at Sandy's Rio Tinto Stadium in a match interrupted by lightning.

Wait a second. Did they actually watch their unbeaten streak end before that media circus of footballing haves and have-nots known as the FIFA World Cup ever got underway?

Regretfully, yes. And while they are still the top team in the league, this was not the best time for the Los Angeles Galaxy to have the wheels fall off and momentum sapped.

It was timing of the worst kind.

For the Galaxy, it was an unforgivable display of poor football exacerbated by a few factors: too much direct football by Juninho, the inability to cope with the altitude—which resulted in terrible passes—and atrocious defending that led to Javier Morales's goal in the 81st minute.

But the biggest factor that destroyed the match for Los Angeles was the absence of Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan. This is where the Galaxy misses their playmaking ability.

It doesn't get any easier for them, as they potentially—POTENTIALLY—could be unavailable for the road contest with Toronto FC, one of two teams the Galaxy have yet to defeat this season.

This Los Angeles Galaxy side showed to the whole world tonight that they indeed have a lot of work to do before they can get something done. They did tie an MLS record for most games unbeaten with 12, but this performance will not bring them to the MLS Cup.

As a matter of fact, the Galaxy played an un-Shield-like performance. They don't deserve to earn the Supporters' Shield with the lack of communication between the forwards, midfield, and defense.

I'll go so far as to say that Los Angeles may not even finish first in the Western Conference with this futile display.

It was horrible even to watch, if you were a Galaxy fan. LA were unable to do even the little things right, such as maintain possession. Real Salt Lake dominated the possession battle on Wednesday. Los Angeles cannot let this become a habit.

The Galaxy will have a fortnight and change to look at themselves in the mirror inside the halls of Victoria Street and say to themselves, "We can't afford to perform like we did at Rio Tinto if we want to hoist the Alan J. Rothenburg Trophy by November at BMO.

"This is not our style of football. We know this. And we will make sure that does not happen again."

Memo to Landon and Edson: after you're done making the rounds, come back soon. Your Galaxy need you back ASAP.

Youth Academy Update

The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy Under-16 and Under-18 teams wrapped up their respective 2009-10 campaigns in the US Soccer Development Academy against the Irvine Strikers at the Home Depot Center.

The U-16s defeated Irvine 1-0, while the U-18s completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory at Field 7 (the David Beckham Field) of the HDC.

The U-18s finish second in the SoCal Division of the US Soccer Development Academy's U-17/18 West Conference with a 10-4-2 record (32 points), five behind champions Real So Cal.

The U-16s end their season 6-6-4 (22 points), good for sixth place in the SoCal Division of the US Soccer Development Academy's U-15/16 West Conference

The Youth Academy rolls right along. The U-20s kicked off their USL Super-20 campaign at the Bell Gardens Sport Center at John Anson Ford Park against Chivas USA.

A horrible display led to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of their rivals.

It added insult to injury for what has been an uncharacteristically futile outing for Los Angeles on Wednesday.


Edvin Jurisevic: Galaxy Supporters' Most Wanted?

Don't be surprised if officials Edvin Jurisevic, Frank Anderson, Eric Proctor and/or Tyler Ploeger get a very, if not severely, harsh treatment from Galaxy supporters at the next game that involves LA.

Anderson and Proctor let what looked to be an offsides goal by Morales stand. It was off a played ball by Pablo Campos in LA's defending third, and the backline were unable to get to Morales in time.

To make matters worse, Jurisevic gave Omar Gonzales a yellow card, effectively putting him among the Galaxy Supporters' Most Wanted.

I welcome the treatment. In fact, I encourage it. There is nothing more proper than to let it be known: in the end, the officials determine the outcome, and if the fans don't like it, they'll have to hear it.

Adds to the atmosphere, too.


Next up for Los Angeles...Toronto FC

Toronto FC is going up against a Galaxy side that will, for the first time this season, snap a losing streak. Boy, there sure has to be a first time for everything, isn't there?

Can this Galaxy team stay focused and ready—and healthy? Will the goals come in against the Canadian champions?

These questions will be answered on June 26 at BMO Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.

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