Maybe it was the cross-country travel that made the Galaxy a bit off as a team or the 3 games in 8 days stretch that made the legs a bit heavier. Regardless, the Galaxy pulled out a win that seemed to always be up in the air until, quite literally, the last minute. The score line wasn’t for lack of trying or an Arena park the bus special.
The Galaxy had plenty of chances to go ahead in the first half that were left untaken. Headers by Omar Gonzalez and Landon Donovan did not make it to goal, while a well-taken shot by Chad Barrett was pushed away by Matt Reis towards the end of the first half. The game-winner finally came in the 69th minute off yet another beautifully placed ball into the box by Beckham that Miguel Lopez got a head to. But even after the game-winner was seemingly in hand, the Galaxy couldn’t put their foot to the neck of the Revolution and almost paid for it in the 2nd minute of stoppage time. A rebound off Ricketts prompted a Matrix-like save from AJ De La Garza. Sean Franklin was only able to clear it out 20 or so yards before the Revs went on another attack that required Landon Donovan, of all people, to clear over his back for yet another goal line save. Not how it was drawn up at all, but with maximum points after 3 tough games, the Galaxy will take those points and run with it.
Short Corners:
– Lopez scored his first goal in MLS in the 69th minute off of a header. The Galaxy lead all teams now with 7 headed goals
– Thanks to the win on Saturday, the Galaxy improve to 16-13-6 overall against the Revolution
– Both Ricketts and Juninho picked up knocks during the game but seemed to ride them out as the game progressed.
– Galaxy completed this month 4-1-2, gaining 14 out of a possible 21 points and good for 1st place in the Western Conference and overall. Their closest challenger is Dallas with 22 points
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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