CARSON “”mdash; Jorge Salcedo’s ear-to-ear smile said it
all. His first match as UCLA men’s soccer head coach was an
astounding success.
Playing against Salcedo’s former professional team, the
MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy, the Bruins pulled off a 1-0 upset
in an exhibition at Home Depot Center, the Galaxy’s home
field.
Freshman midfielder Eli Meschures scored the game’s only
goal in the 79th minute, running past a defender and hitting a
perfectly placed shot that Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman could
not reach. Freshman forward Chad Barrett supplied the assist.
Salcedo was obviously pleased after the match, but in a show of
restraint usually reserved for more veteran coaches, he downplayed
the achievement of his team.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel
good,” Salcedo said. “But it’s only an
exhibition, and that’s what I told my guys after the game.
Feel good about this and enjoy two days off.”
Salcedo also de-emphasized facing his old team and Sigi Schmid,
his college and pro coach.
“You don’t really look at it like that as a
coach,” Salcedo said. “The fact that Sigi coached me
was something I didn’t really think about all that
much.”
What Salcedo emphasized instead was the play of his team. He
noted how his defense held up against a Galaxy team that was
dominant in possession and chances all game.
That praise was certainly warranted as many Galaxy shots in the
quarter of an hour after Meschures’s goal were blocked by
jumping and sliding defenders. The defense also played physically
against MLS leading goal scorer Carlos Ruiz, denying him
opportunities to score an equalizer.
Even when the Galaxy substituted in eight players in the 60th
minute, including Korean national team player Hong Myung Bo and
U.S. national team players Jovan Kirovski and Danny Califf, the
Galaxy could not break through the stout Bruins defense
consistently for clear shots.
When Galaxy shots were able to make it through the thicket of
UCLA defenders, sophomore goalkeeper Nate Peña was there to
make many saves for the shutout and the win.
Salcedo picked Peña to start over freshman Eric Reed at the
last minute.
“It was a gut decision,” Salcedo said. “Nate
was great, he came up big again and again for us. I think I’m
going to go with my gut most of the time now.”
Salcedo’s players were also pleased.
“It feels so good, especially since we watch them on TV,
and then we come out here and beat them,” said freshman
defender Kiel McClung. “It’s a great
feeling.”