Bergen’s Eskandarian, Berhalter make impact
The Record and Herald News (Hackensack, New Jersey)
Friday, July 17, 2009
BY TIM LEONARD, STAFF WRITER
EAST RUTHERFORD ` The attendance was 23,238, and while many of those
who came to Giants Stadium on Thursday night were there to cheer or
jeer David Beckham, a sizable number were there to see some of his Los
Angeles Galaxy teammates.
Two Bergen County natives played big roles in the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory
over the Red Bulls.
Montvale native Alecko Eskandarian scored an early goal and Tenafly
native Gregg Berhalter got on the stat sheet with a yellow card in the
10th minute and led a stingy defense that gave the Red Bulls precious
few opportunities to score..
"This one was probably the most special one. This is probably the last
game I’ll ever play here," said Eskandarian, who is half of what
likely is the only father-son duo to play professional soccer at
Giants Stadium. "I really wanted to make this a special night."
Eskandarian’s father, Andranik, played with the Cosmos 30 years ago.
Eskandarian set the tone early. He tipped a ball into the air and spun
around a Red Bulls defender, stepping into the bouncing ball for a
25-yard blast that sailed over the outstretched arms of Red Bulls
goalkeeper Danny Cepero to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the third
minute. It was Eskandarian’s third goal of the season.
The shot was pure opportunism, with Eskandarian creating something out
of nothing and crushing the perfectly timed strike.
It was Eskandarian’s second goal in three games for the Galaxy since
being traded from Chivas USA for a conditional pick in the 2010
SuperDraft on July 1.
Eskandarian had scored one goal in seven matches ` two starts ` for
Chivas USA before the trade. The Galaxy are 3-0 since acquiring
Eskandarian.
"The last two months at Chivas, I felt the coaches treated me as an
afterthought," Eskandarian said. "I’m definitely hungry to play. I
feel very blessed this trade was made. It feels great to contribute
again."
Eskandarian 0 in the first half, powering a left-footed shot from 25
yards just over the crossbar in the 37th minute. He received a yellow
card for dissent 10 minutes before that chance.
Berhalter also set the tone early, but in a decidedly different
manner. The former two-time All-American at North Carolina received a
quick caution after laying out Red Bulls forward Macoumba Kandji at
midfield in the 10th minute. Kandji stayed down briefly as Berhalter
was booked.
Berhalter delivered another hard foul later in the first half that
drew a word from referee Shane Moody, but he didn’t need to send any
more messages to what was an inept Red Bulls offense.
Berhalter helped keep things organized in the back, which was easy
since New York rarely attacked with more than three players. Berhalter
was whistled for three fouls in the game.
"It sent a message to their forwards," Berhalter said with a bit of a
grin of the foul on Kandji. "And it happened in midfield. I don’t mind
those."
Berhalter was hit with a wave of emotion just before the game. It was
the first time he had played at Giants Stadium since a friendly with
the U.S. national team in 2002.
"I had a nice feeling inside. It gave me a nice shot before the game
because of this," Berhalter said, referring to the approximately 85
family members and friends who were part of the crowd.
"I got a little sentimental. I was thinking this is where I
started. This was my first professional game here after 35 years and
30 years of soccer. To win made it even more special."
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