Carson, CA -- The Los Angeles Galaxy hosted the Rapids Friday night with playoff implications at stake for both teams. For the Galaxy, it was a chance to get closer to the top of the Western Conference, and for the Rapids, it was a must-win situation if they hoped to stay in playoff contention.
From the start, LA was the aggressor with some great passing near goal that gave Sean Franklin a diagonal, but off target, shot in the 3rd minute.
In the 15th minute, the superb Galaxy passing continued, as Landon Donovan made the final pass into the 18-yard box for Robbie Keane, who scored with his left foot past Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens for a 1-0 lead.
The Rapids had very little working offensively in the first half aside from some quality passing in the 11th and 25th minutes, and a corner kick in the 39th minute that Tyrone Marshall headed wide of goal.
In the absence of David Beckham, new Galaxy signee Christian Wilhelmsson made his presence known in the second half.
In the 58th minute, Marcelo Sarvas played a great ball over the top of the defense to a streaking Wilhelmsson. Wilhelmsson gathered the ball and spun around two Colorado defenders before shooting on goal with his left foot. The strike did not have much power behind it, but Pickens was unable to save the shot.
The Galaxy would hold on to the 2-0 lead thanks to Marcelo Sarvas' heroics in the 79th minute. With the Rapids looking to make a late rally, Conor Casey beat Josh Saunders and had a clear shot on goal from 6-yards away. However, as Casey fired the shot, Sarvas made a leaping dive and was able to somehow block the shot with his body.
With the win, the Galaxy gained three important points in the standings and stayed unbeaten for the month of September. LA will Toronto FC next weekend.
By Brian Kowalski
Staff Reporter for The Daily Sports Herald
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