For the first time in several games, the Los Angeles Galaxy came out as the more aggressive team Saturday night against Real Salt Lake. On their way to outshooting RSL 16-13, the Galaxy looked like they were going to ride a fast start to a win when Alan Gordon scored in the sixth minute.
But as the first half wore on, chance after chance fell by the wayside, and it eventually cost the Galaxy. Over a 15-minute stretch late in the game the Galaxy gave away two goals, and saw Troy Roberts get sent off with his second yellow card, before falling to a 2-1 defeat.
Real's first goal came off a counterattack just seconds after Cobi Jones had struck the crossbar at the other end. It seemed to take the wind out of the Galaxy, who had managed to play a very energetic game to that point.
"I would say physically people were spent. Mentally is how we were staying in it," said Kyle Martino. "People were really sharp, really strong, just staying dedicated. I think when that goal snuck in off of a counter attack after Cobi hit the crossbar, I think it was like 'here we go again.' It was one of those moments where we were holding on with such little physical strength left that it almost crippled us."
By that point, however, the Galaxy should have been up by a few goals. Landon Donovan missed his second penalty kick in as many games early in the second half.
"I tried not to over-think it. I couldn't have done more than that. I hit it hard and I wanted to hit it that way," said Donovan. "Rimando did a good job to get his hand to it."
It wasn't just Donovan who missed good opportunities. Edson Buddle had two chances from point-blank range in the first half that Rimando saved. Troy Roberts had a free header that he put over the bar, and the Galaxy seemed to have Salt Lake pinned in their own half for much of the game.
But as is often the case, it's not just about having the possession, it's what you do with it.
"We had a great first half, took it to them, and should have scored more than one goal," said Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop. "We had great chances to finish the game and we didn't. Obviously, always in football, if you don't finish your chances when you're on top you usually get punished and I think that happened again tonight."
Not building a big enough cushion in the first half was the prevailing theme in the Galaxy locker room following the game as to why they came away with yet another home loss.
"To only come out 1-0 at halftime is part of the game, but we have to take care of things in the second half," said Chris Klein. "They were opportunistic with their chances. We obviously had the better of the play and you have to win those games. This is a proud group in this locker room and we'll come out of this and hold our head high and you can expect us to come out fighting again on Saturday."
There is no questioning the fight the Galaxy put in on Saturday, as for the second time in four days Los Angeles put in a very solid performance. Despite the loss, it was one of the club's better performances on the year.
"I really don't feel that this year we've been all over a team the way we were all over them. We completely dominated them and created every opportunity, especially in the first half to sink them down three or four goals," said Martino.
"We didn't capitalize, and that's soccer. There are plenty of times I've been on the other side of the spectrum. You've got to capitalize on your chances and put teams like that down when you're crushing them. It's just unfortunate that we couldn't do that tonight."
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
