November 23, 2009
WHY DEMA DIDN'T PLAY
Viral infection shelves former Red Bull

SEATTLE -- Many soccer observers figured that defensive midfielder Dema Kovalenko was going to start and be a vital part of the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS Cup Sunday.

But that wasn't the case. Kovalenko came down with a viral infection this past week and his fitness kept him on the bench.

"He was pretty ill," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "He started to respond [Saturday] where he started feeling better. But to start him today would have been a real issue. He would not have had a full tank."

So, the former Red Bull sat in favor of Jovan Kirovski.

Arena said he wanted to put Kovalenko into the match around the 70th minute. But goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' hand injury changed all of Arena's plans.

"But when we had to make the change with the goalkeeper and then they got the goal, we didn't want to change for defensive purposes. We were a little bit handcuffered there."