Carson, Calif. -- After a thrilling win at home Friday night against the Houston Dynamo, the Galaxy looked to build on their momentum with a mid-week game at home against Real Salt Lake in front of 13,391 fans at the StubHub Center. The Galaxy came into the game at less than full strength with both AJ DeLaGarza and Robbie Rogers out, and with Robbie Keane playing in a reserve capacity.
Head Coach Bruce Arena made two changes to the starting lineup that faced Houston, as Ignacio Maganto and Alan Gordon started in place of Stefan Ishizaki and Oscar Sorto.
Early in the game, the Galaxy received a great opportunity in the 6th minute when Maganto got the ball on the wing and dribbled past Jamison Olave of RSL. Olave batted the ball down with his arm, earning LA a penalty kick. The Galaxy's Juninho stepped up and slotted it past Nick Rimando for a 1-0 lead.
"In my mind, I said I’m going to change it this time," said Juninho. "Last time I hit it a ball low on the right side and he caught it and this time I hit it to the left and he couldn’t save it."
LA continued its attack with a Jose Villarreal shot that missed the far post by inches. RSL tried to slow down the Galaxy’s fast start by getting more physical, as Kyle Beckerman fouled Villarreal in the back in the 10th minute and received a yellow card.
As the first half moved along, the game’s intensity elevated with play getting increasingly rough, as multiple fouls and injury stoppages occurred with each team trying to get the better of the other. Head referee Baldomero Toledo let them play on for the most part.
LA had another good scoring chance in the 38th minute when Maganto again got the ball on the wing. He dribbled into the box, sprinting with the ball, and laid it off for Villarreal whose left-footed shot missed the goal from about 12 yards away.
“The kid has got a certain quality, he is skillful," said Keane of Maganto. "When players are skillful that can go left or right, it’s very difficult for defenders to make sure where he is going to go. So I thought he was very, very good and he is only going to get better the more games that he plays, and the more experience that he gets."
The second half got underway with Keane subbing in for Villarreal, and providing a spark immediately with a cross into Gyasi Zardes that almost was headed into goal.
RSL tried to get on the scoreboard in the 64th minute when they earned a free-kick from 20 yards out, but the Galaxy's defense blocked the attempt.
Minutes later, LA had another great chance with Zardes receiving a long ball from Omar Gonzalez. Gyasi played the ball across goal and to Maganto who shot high of the bar, much to the disappointment of Keane.
As the second half continued, both teams tried to create offense by getting into the final third, but neither side effectively threatened.
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena tried to change that by subbing in Edson Buddle for last game’s hero Alan Gordon with about 20 minutes left in the game, but Buddle never was put in position to make a difference.
RSL nearly tied it in the 84th minute with a cross right in front of goal that would have scored, but the Galaxy defense was on high alert with Gonzalez making the sliding block.
"Like I said before, I’m the so-called leader back there, but everyone is doing their part in making sure we’re keeping guys aware of what’s on their blindside, keeping them aware of guys making runs in behind and the right time to drop," said Gonzalez. "So I think we’ve just been working good as a unit and have just got to keep it going."
The Galaxy ultimately prevailed 1-0, notching another win before heading to New England for a MLS Cup rematch. LA is now 5-4-5 on the season.
By Brian Kowalski
Reporter for TheDailySportsHerald.com
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