Like nearly every other Western Conference team, the LA Galaxy have struggled to get results against the East. Friday night was no exception, as the New England Revolution came to The Home Depot Center and walked away with a 2-1 win.
Adam Cristman scored two goals in a five-minute span in the first half, and the Galaxy, despite controlling the second half, could pull one back only through the efforts of David Beckham.
Los Angeles came out and moved the ball well through the midfield in the first 10 minutes, but failed to break down New England at all entering the final third. As the opening minutes withered away, New England began to settle in and control the possession.
The Galaxy managed to stay organized at the back, but an early breakdown nearly cost them. In the ninth minute, the backline allowed Sainey Nyassi to sneak in behind and go one-on-one with Steve Cronin. The first-year starter in goal cut down the angle quickly though, and forced the Gambian youth international to shoot right at him.
The better of the offensive pressure remained with the Revolution, and at the quarter-hour mark, Cronin was pressed into action again. This time it was Shalrie Joseph forcing Cronin to make a stop with a 22-yard effort from the left side of the penalty area.
Ten minutes later, Mauricio Castro forced another save from Cronin from nearly the same spot. This time the ball squirted past Cronin, but the 'keeper managed to scramble back and collect the ball before it could go out for a corner kick.
The Galaxy finally registered their first shot of the game just before the half-hour mark. Beckham played an early cross from deep in the midfield. Mike Randolph ran onto the ball at the back post but his header went wide of the post.
That brief glimmer of offense was short lived, as New England finally broke through at the 33rd minute mark. From a corner kick, Castro whipped a ball to the penalty spot. Joseph hit a snap header down at Cronin's feet, forcing a good reaction save. But the Galaxy defense was slow to react to the rebound, allowing Cristman to bang home the first goal at the back post.
Five minutes later Cristman doubled the advantage, again from a corner kick. This time it was Steve Ralston on the cross. Cristman crashed toward the six yard box, running right past Abel Xavier before hitting a powerful header past Cronin.
LA tried to respond, and a minute later, Beckham again picked out Randolph at the back post. This time, the smallest man on the field for the Galaxy out jumped Nyassi to win the header, but was once again off the mark with his shot.
New England came close to adding another in first-half stoppage time. Xavier attempted to intercept a pass and instead allowed Cristman to get in behind him. Cristman dribbled in alone and laid the ball off to Castro. Castro had an empty net to shoot into, but instead clanged his shot off the post, allowing LA to go to the locker room only down two.
The second half brought immediate changes for LA, as Landon Donovan entered the game. The Galaxy's star striker didn't start the match due to flu symptoms, but his services were clearly needed as the Galaxy's offense was anemic in the opening 45 minutes.
The Galaxy did manage to get the offense started early in the second half. n just the 49th minute, Randolph crossed the ball to Beckham at the back post. The English international tried to slice home a volley, but like Randolph's two efforts in the first half, missed wide of the mark.
A few minutes later, the Galaxy won a free kick on the left flank. Beckham took the free kick and found the head of Alvaro Pires, but the Brazilian's header failed to force Matt Reis into his first save of the night.
Los Angeles continued to try and pull one back, and in the 58th minute, they finally forced Reis into his first save. Working the ball around the edge of the area, Donovan freed up Edson Buddle. Buddle managed to get a good shot away, despite being under duress, but Reis was equal to the task.
LA's persistence finally paid off in the 66th minute. Donovan made a great 40-yard run through the midfield before finding Chris Klein on the right. Klein crossed the ball to the back post and Buddle headed the ball back to Donovan, who hit an awkward shot that was deflected out by Joseph, but only to the top of the area. Beckham ran under the ball and hit a full volley that deflected off the back of Jay Heaps and into the net.
The injection of Donovan continued to pay dividends as Los Angeles was dominating the second half. On another breakout in the 77th minute, Donovan poked a through ball to Beckham. Beckham took a touch, weighed his options, then played a ball along the ground to Buddle. The Galaxy striker hit a first time shot that beat Reis, but clanged off the crossbar and straight up into the air. Reis found the ball in the lights and gathered it in before any damage was done.
In a last-ditch effort to find the game-tying goal, Ruud Gullit brought on Carlos Ruiz. The Guatemalan made little impact on the match however, and the Galaxy fell 2-1 on the night. Next up for LA is the SuperClasico against Chivas USA on MLS Primetime Thursday, and a reprieve from Eastern Conference opposition.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
