BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Los Angeles Galaxy had two chances Thursday to show off their new and improved self-confidence. Instead, they showed once again their inability to keep the other team from scoring.
Coming off their first win in the last 13 games, an impressive 5-2 win against D.C. United, the Galaxy let in two interesting second-half goals and the Chicago Fire won 3-1 before a sellout crowd in a vibrating Toyota Park.
The loss left the Galaxy with 29 points, still in sixth place in the Western Conference and in 12th place overall, with four games left to pull themselves up to one of the top eight spots.
"We need to pick it up because we are running out of opportunities," Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said.
The Galaxy entered the game hoping to capitalize on the outcome from Saturday, but they were playing a team that had been embarrassed defensively four days earlier. The Fire were coming off a 5-1 loss to FC Dallas, giving up more than two goals for the first time all season.
With their best 11 on the field for the first time in a long time, the Fire did not give up a shot through the first 25 minutes, as the Galaxy tried to find their attack using the same lineup that scored so often against D.C. United.
"Our confidence was maybe too high going into this game," Beckham said.
After Chris Rolfe of the Fire scored on a brilliant piece of individual workmanship, the Galaxy tied the game on their own style of teamwork. Landon Donovan sent the ball from above the box to the far right side, where defender Chris Klein gathered the ball then crossed it into the box to Eddie Lewis. Lewis got in front of his defender and flicked it inside the far post with his left boot for a 1-1 tie in the 35th minute.
Tied at 1-1 going into the half, the Galaxy had another chance to show they were ready to will themselves to a second consecutive victory. Instead, they gave up the two second-half scores.
The second goal featured Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco at his controversial best. Chasing a 50-50 ball outside the box in the 57th minute, Blanco collided with defender Troy Roberts while goalkeeper Josh Wicks ran up to make a play at the same time. The ball was popped forward out of the mix by Blanco, who hopped over Roberts and had an easy shot into an empty goal.
"That was the play that decided the match," Arena said. "I thought Troy had position and was about to clear it. Josh has to go through that ball if he is going make a play on it. That was maybe a little bit of inexperience on our part."
Two minutes later, Blanco earned an assist on Rolfe's goal. He found Gonzalo Segares with a nifty backheel in the center circle, and the Fire defender sent a through ball past Brian McBride to Rolfe running on from the right side. With just Wicks in front of him, Rolfe's shot glanced off Wicks' hands and bounced into the goal for a 3-1 Fire lead.
The Galaxy ended up with just four shots on goal, and none of them by Landon Donovan, the league's leading scorer. His best scoring opportunity came in the 70th minute on an offering from Lewis, who sent a cross from left to right, where Donovan had an open look at Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch. But Donovan's volley went up and over the net.
"I think Landon had a few good scoring opportunities," Arena said. "He was a little bit quiet in the first half."
The first goal of the game demonstrated the struggles the Galaxy have on defense. Rolfe hit the ground in a battle for the ball about 40 yards out, but got up and recovered the ball, then dribbled from right to left and picked the ball away from two Galaxy defenders before firing a left-footed shot into the left corner past Wicks in the 13th minute.
"We had opportunities to get that ball twice," Arena said.
It was the seventh time in 26 games the Galaxy have allowed three or more goals in a game.
Arena had to ask an assistant how many games were left in the Galaxy's efforts to get into the playoffs. He found out there are four games remaining, which is not a lot of time.
"Obviously we are a little bit behind the 8-ball," Arena said. "Likely we need to win three of them if we are going to have a chance. I feel confident we are going to make a great effort to get there."
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