Sunday, March 22, 2009

Galaxy Score Twice Late to Earn 2-2 Draw

LA Galaxy 2, D.C. United 2
March 22, 2009
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.

Scoring Summary:
DC – Christian Gomez 1 (Penalty Kick) 44’
DC – Chris Pontius 1 (Rodney Wallace 1) 62’
LA – Landon Donovan 1 (Penalty Kick) 80’
LA – Landon Donovan 2 (Kyle Patterson 1) 85’

Misconduct Summary:
LA – Dema Kovalenko (Yellow Card) 44’
DC – Rodney Wallace (Yellow Card) 56’
DC – Christian Gomez (Yellow Card) 69’
DC – Josh Wicks (Yellow Card) 79'

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders, A.J. DeLaGarza, Tony Sanneh, Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin, Josh Tudela, Dema Kovalenko (Kyle Patterson 80’), Mike Magee (Bryan Jordan 59’), Chris Klein, Jovan Kirovski (Alan Gordon 76’), Landon Donovan©.

Subs Not Used: Miguel Benetiz, Yohance Marshall, Julian Valentin, Stefani Miglioranzi.

D.C. United: Josh Wicks, Rodney Wallace, Greg Janicki, Dejan Jakovic, Devan McTavish (Marc Burch 79’), Bryan Namoff, Clyde Simms, Ben Olsen© (Thabiso Khumalo 72’), Christian Gomez (Andrew Jacobson 83’), Chris Pontius, Luciano Emilio.

Subs Not Used: Milos Kocic, Anthony Peters, Francis Doe, Jaime Moreno.

Notes:
• With the draw, the Galaxy begin the season 0-0-1. They are now tied with the Houston Dynamo for third place in the Western Conference with one point.
• Six of the 11 players that started the game for the Galaxy were not with the club at the end of the 2008 MLS season.
• For the second straight season, the Galaxy used two draft picks in their starting lineup for the first game of the season, with Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza each starting in defense. Last year, both Ely Allen and Michael Gavin were in the Galaxy’s starting XI for the season opening loss to Colorado.
• This was the first time since the 2006 season that the Galaxy began their season at home. The Galaxy are now 9-4-1 all-time in their home openers and 6-5-3 in season openers.
• With his goal in the 80th minute, Landon Donovan ended the Galaxy’s run of 461 minutes without a goal on opening day. Prior to Donovan’s goal, the last time a Galaxy player scored in the season opener was on April 3, 2004 when Jovan Kirovski scored in a 3-2 win over New England at The Home Depot Center.
• Donovan’s two goals on the day made him the first Galaxy player to score two goals in the season’s first game since Carlos Ruiz did in a 2-1 overtime win over D.C. United on March 23, 2002.
• Kyle Patterson’s assist on Donovan’s game-tying goal in the 85th minute was the first of his MLS career.
• With the draw, the Galaxy are 0-0-1 this season when allowing the game’s first goal. Last year they were 2-13-4 when falling behind 1-0.
• The attendance for today’s game was 18,013.
• For more about this afternoon’s game, please visit www.lagalaxy.com.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought we played a good first half. Second half, not so much. We sort of lost our way.

But I commend you guys for fighting until the end. You didn't give up and you kept playing hard. We got a break with the PK...but we created it with our pressure.

Keep getting better!

Anonymous said...

I always worry about PK's in games but never when LD is on the ball! The second goal by Landon was beautiful, they played it back in slow motion on the tv, simply perfect! I always love watching LD play soccer, he just works magic with some of his goals! I agree with Nicole first half they played good (not great) and the second half they played ok! Sanneh played wonderful! As well as BJ, I have always been a fan of watching that boy play soccer, just an awesome work effort!

Anonymous said...

ref had 3 chances to call a PK for us and he took the non-existant one. Landon was NOT offside on the 2nd. Pause the MLS highlite replay to see he was in line with the defenders when the ball was in the air. Wicks and Saunders are not MLS-ready yet. Glad we only have one of them left on the team.

Mcgee and Kirovsky disappointed but tried. Tudela worked his ass off but he can't create. With a better line we would have been 2 up at halp. But, I'll the wind-affected, ref-aided draw this time.

Anonymous said...

First off - thanks so much, Landon! We would not have tied the game without your instinct and timing. The team played hard - fought hard for the most part; but, there is still a LOT of work on hte ball and off the ball to be done. I'm sorry - but, Mike Magee on the left-hand side is NOT doing it for me! I know he's somewhat of a versatile forward; but using him in left-mid is a NO-NO!!! He looked very uncomfortable and a bit tired/moody. Jovan - bless him for trying - but, he's not of the age he once was a long while ago. So, do not count on Jovan for speed on top of tenacity. He's got vision and understanding - but, not with Landon, Josh, Chris, and Bryan yet. Definitely, everyone of this team needs more actual, competitive game time together. However, I'm still left feeling not settled and not assured of whether this team can out-wit and over-take some of the more confident, settled, experienced teams. I don't know what Bruce, Dave, Cobi, and Trevor have planned - but, they better spend some considerable time, sffort, emphases on connecting, short-passing, running on/running off, closing down, channeling, shooting, and finishing. Yikes - we were lucky to get the draw today. Once again, thanks Landon - oh, and thanks Omar, AJ, Tony, and Dema!!! Sean, please - man-up, gather up your mental & physical strength, focus, practice, and play a lot more to get your rhythm and sense of placement back!!! I know you can do it, Sean... believe in your athletic abilities.

Anonymous said...

AJ and Magee sucked on the left side. AJ didnt look comfortable at all, kept on sending long balls to no one in space.

Magee, terrible pick up, didnt even show up.

Tudela, what is he doing in the starting lineup?

I dont think we connected more than 5 times (defensive balls to MF) all we were doing from the back was long ball, long ball.

we were very lucky to get that PK. cant believe that ref didnt get more fight from D.C.

we need a TRUE left back and left mid, maybe when LEwis comes back.

But again, we are old, aging and AJ is not a viable cover for left back. He was slow, got beat and looked out of place.

COME ON BRUCE!! bring in some better players.

Anonymous said...

what fight we had cant wait till lewis and buddle are healhy again we will get more scoring chances with them next week

MEG said...

P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C

Anonymous said...

Noticed Sesay limping after the game is he injured? Need to give other teammates a chance i.e. Valentin. AJ shouldn't be playing and neither should Magee. They aren't ready for a spot on the field. Go Galaxy.

Anonymous said...

GET RID OF ALAN GORDON!!!!

GalaxyTRUfan said...

Our prize#1 draft pick looked slow like it was suggested in all the pre-draft talk. Sanneh looked good all the way around. Franklin didn't even seem like he was in the game.A.J is playing a totally new position,and looked great on the defensive end,but with games under his belt,he will shine on the offensive side of the ball. LD has no help up top,and Magee definetly dosen't belong on the left mid... Its ONLY the 1st game,and if we would of won,all you hate birds would be singing a new tune. Thats why you all post here,and are not the Head Coach,GO BRUCE ... Way to keep up the fight guys,I was very encouraged,normally being down 2 nill in the past we would of folded and went home,but you all fought the entire game and salvaged a point for the standings ....