Berhalter penalty gives Galaxy 1-0 Win

Gregg Berhalter scored the only goal of the game as the Galaxy defeated Kansas City 1-0 today in a 60-minute scrimmage at Reach 11 in Phoenix. Berhalter converted his penalty after Edson Buddle had been pulled down in the box by the Kansas City keeper.

Buddle nearly put the Galaxy in front after just five minutes when Chris Birchall swung the ball out to Bryan Jordan on the left flank and Jordan crossed into the box for Buddle, whose shot was deflected off the crossbar by Kansas City goalkeeper Eric Kronberg.

The Galaxy maintained the better of the possession throughout the first half and went ahead just three minutes before the break when Sean Franklin's long ball out of the back was cut out by Jimmy Conrad, only for Buddle to muscle Conrad off the ball to go in alone on goal. Buddle drew the keeper toward him and then put the ball around him, forcing Kronberg to pull him down for the penalty. Berhalter stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly converted it to send LA into the break ahead 1-0.

The Galaxy made just one change at the half, bringing on Mike Magee for Edson and the Galaxy continued to control the game.

However, with 15 minutes remaining, Josh Saunders was forced to race off his line to clear the ball and was adjudged to have fouled the K.C. attacker, with the referee also decoding to send Saunders off.

That brought on Kevin Guppy for the final 15 minutes, with the former CSUN goalkeeper helping to keep yet another clean sheet for the Galaxy, who have not allowed a goal so far during the preseason.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday at Arizona State before the Galaxy return to Los Angeles on Monday.

Galaxy Lineup: Josh Saunders (Kevin Guppy 45'); Alex Cazumba, Gregg Berhalter, Yohance Marshall, Sean Franklin; Chris Birchall, Bryan Jordan, Michael Stephens, Chris Klein; Jovan Kirovski, Edson Buddle (Mike Magee 31')