Landon Donovan and David Beckham combined for a pair of goals over the final quarter of the match to pull the Los Angeles Galaxy back into a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Houston dominated the opening 45 minutes, and took a lead into the locker room thanks to Brad Davis. But Donovan scored twice, set up each time by Beckham, as the Galaxy twice came back from a goal down before finally sharing the points for their first draw of the season.
The Galaxy created the game's first chance after just a couple of minutes on a counterattack. Beckham picked off a pass in the midfield, beat a defender, then passed to Gordon. A series of one-touch passes ensued with Gordon hitting Edson Buddle, who then fed Donovan, who fired a first-time shot just wide of the Houston goal.
But the field began to be more decidedly titled towards Houston's attacking third. The Dynamo held more of the possession, with LA resigned to responding mainly on the counter.
A bit of miscommunication on the back line nearly cost the Galaxy at the quarter-hour. On a long hopeful ball into the Galaxy penalty area, Greg Vanney and Steve Cronin both thought the other was going to go for the ball, allowing Franco Caraccio to get to the ball first. Caraccio chased down the loose ball and shot from a sharp angle, but the ball rolled harmlessly across the goalmouth.
Houston continued to press, and in the 26th minute won a free kick on the right side of the penalty area. From about 22 yards out, Davis hit a shot on target that Cronin got a fingertip to, deflecting the ball off the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Brian Ching was sent in on goal by Dwayne De Rosario. The Hawaiian did everything right, shooting low to the back post, but Cronin managed to get the slightest of touches to the ball, redirecting the shot around the outside of the post.
The game finally got its first goal in the 36th minute. Brian Mullan sent a cross deep into the area. Caraccio headed the ball back towards the middle for Ching, who mis-hit a shot. The ball bounced right to Davis, who made no mistake with his close range effort, putting it into the back of the net.
As Los Angeles continued to struggle with possession, Houston's onslaught continued. In the 41st minute, De Rosario got loose at the top of the 18 and shot to the near post, but Cronin was well positioned and made an easy save to keep the Galaxy within one.
The Galaxy finally got a sniff at goal just as the first half entered stoppage time. Chris Klein sent an early cross into the area for Buddle, but his header missed the target.
Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit made a pair of substitutions at halftime to try and shore up the possession, bringing on Abel Xavier and Joey Franchino for Josh Tudela and Alan Gordon. The moves helped a little bit, as Los Angeles was able to win their first corner kick of the game five minutes into the half.
From the set piece Donovan crossed to the back post, where Sean Franklin hit a header aimed for the corner. Unfortunately for the home fans, Wade Barrett was well positioned to clear the ball off the line.
Moments later, the Galaxy were back on the attack. A long diagonal ball out of the back found Beckham, who did well to play the ball back to the top of the penalty area for Buddle, whose first time shot was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Tony Caig.
The Houston 'keeper had his clean sheet preserved by another teammate in the 54th minute. Beckham lined up a free kick from the left side of the box that appeared to be headed for the top corner. But De Rosario was standing right there at the back post to head the ball clear.
Houston briefly regained control, and in the 65th minute, wasted a glorious chance in front of goal. Caraccio beat Xavier off the dribble and set the table for Brian Ching at the top of the area. With either post to shoot at, Ching hit his shot right into the chest of Cronin.
Los Angeles quickly countered, and Donovan found the ball 30 yards from goal. The U.S. international dribbled into the area, then laid off a pass for Buddle. Buddle shot from a sharp angle, but Caig was well positioned to make the save.
Some minutes earlier, Donovan and Dynamo defender Patrick Ianni had collided while a long ball rolled to Caig. Donovan got up from the ground clearly a changed man, and in the 68th minute, he made all the pressure by the Galaxy finally pay off.
Donovan found Beckham on the right flank, and the Englishman sent a return ball to the near post. Donovan pushed his way past the marking of Ianni and hit an incredible diving header inside the post and Caig to tie things up, finishing off with a demonstrative yell over the fallen Houston defender.
But it took Houston just nine minutes to retake the lead. The Galaxy failed to clear a corner kick, and the ball eventually worked its way into Ching. Using his big frame, Ching turned his defender and banged a shot off the crossbar. Caraccio was first to the rebound and fired home the go-ahead goal.
The Beckham-to-Donovan connection hit again in the 84th minute. Beckham drove a cross through the six along the ground where Donovan came charging in at the back post. From less than a yard out, Donovan slid in and scored his second of the night and fifth of the season.
Caig was saved for the third time by a teammate in the 90th minute. This time it was Ianni, who cleared a Buddle header off the line that had looped over the Houston 'keeper, while Donovan appealed that the ball had first crossed the line.
Next up for Los Angeles is the first Super Clasico of the season against Chivas USA, and a chance to climb back up the standings. The Dynamo remain on the road, traveling to Columbus to take on the Crew.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
