LA Galaxy Vs. San Jose Earthquakes -- a Fan's Reaction

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be so ecstatic after watching a 0-0 draw in a soccer match. After all, one of the biggest complaints soccer-haters have about the beautiful game is that goals, and therefore excitement, are sparse. Yet here I was, not only overjoyed at the nil-nil result, but praising a player who I had literally just been complaining about 50 minutes earlier. Why the sudden change of heart? Well, it all starts with a collision.

LA Galaxy goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, who just recently returned from his stint with the Jamaican national team at the Gold Cup,had a nasty collision with San Jose Earthquake playerKhari Stephenson, who ironically enough, is a fellow countryman. He was diagnosed with a broken forearm and replaced by Josh Saunders. Unfortunate to lose the defending Goalkeeper of the Year, but Istill wasn't worried. Saunders had started the last few matches for LA, and looked solid in each of them. Then came the most bizarre sequence of events I have seen in the MLS this season.

Saunders had just scooped up the ball and was looking to make an outlet pass, when Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart ran up beside him and tried to head the ball out of his hands. First of all, this is not a legal play. Saunders preceded to shield the ball away from him and threw out his arm in protection. HIs elbow caught Lenhart in the face, and of course Lenhard cued the dramatics and rolled around in the grass for a good while. I'm not sure if the "elbow" was intentional or not, but nonetheless, Lenhart started this altercation by committing an act that he, as well as every kid in AYSO, knew was not allowed. In runs the referee, who was working his first match as the central ref by the way, and Saunders is shown a red card. Uh-oh.

My next immediate thought was, "Okay. Crappy unfair situation, but Brian Perk is our third string keeper. Might be virtually unknown to MLS fans, but as a Bruin, I had faith. I mean, this guy is like an all-star amongst the college ranks." Small problem. Perk wasn't on the 18-man roster. Now what?

In runs Mike Magee, the player who I had just been complaining about for the past 40 minutes.Don't get me wrong, I love Magee's spirit and uncanny ability to somehow be the luckiest forward in past situations. But let's just say, he hasn't had the best of luck lately, with goals OR possession of the ball. And now, here he was, trading in his size small #18 jersey for Saunders's oversized goalie outfit. I couldn't help but find the image histerical. And I couldn't help but think, "Oh god, we are doomed." No offense to Magee, but after seeing the massive body of Ricketts and even Saunders in goal, Magee seemed way out of his element. The Galaxy were not only down a player, they had their small forward in goal. Is this real life??

And yet, here I am, still in shock that little old Magee was about to prove me and probably everyone watching the game, wrong. He recorded 4 saves en route to a clean sheet for the Galaxy, and definitely showed how deceiving looks can be. Mike Magee, Man of the Match. As the goalkeeper. Who would've ever thought? Lots of credit also goes to the back line of Todd Dunivant, AJ De La Garza, Omar Gonzalez, and even good ol Greg Berhalter, for making Magee's evening go a little smoother.

So there you have it. Magee arguably has a better half in goal than he did on the pitch. Bizarre situation and even more bizarre outcome. But I will gladly take the point, and look forward to the next match on July 4th, where I'm assuming Perk will make his MLS debut.He may be a small 'keeper but hopefully he'll be able to prove the doubters wrong, just as Magee was able to do today.