Alan Gordon notched his first goal of the season for the Galaxy and Landon Donovan scored his first goal for his club in quite some time to pace the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-1 win in their Superliga opener against Pachuca at The Home Depot Center. Rafael Marquez Lugo scored in the losing effort for Pachuca.
Pachuca entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all, and controlled the run of play Tuesday for long stretches throughout. But the defending Mexican champions were unable to capitalize on their constant pressure, and Donovan's redirection of a Cobi Jones shot nine minutes from the end answered Lugo's late equalizer and gave the Galaxy a welcome victory.
Both sides showed their intentions to go forward in the opening minutes. Just seconds into the game, Chris Klein passed the ball to Gordon at the top of the area. Gordon's first touch got away from him, forcing a volley attempt that sailed high over the crossbar. Less than a minute later Pachuca got forward and Luis Gabriel Rey sent his header just wide from eight yards out.
Following that initial foray forward, the opening minutes belonged to Pachuca, who attacked the Galaxy in waves. A second shot from close range by Rey was followed by a number of balls played in from the flanks that had the Galaxy defense scrambling in the early going.
Pachuca nearly broke through in the 16th minute. A mistake by Kelly Gray in the final third let Andres Chivita free, and in turn he slipped Marquez Lugo in behind the defense. Marquez Lugo shot from a sharp angle, but Joe Cannon was equal to the task, sticking out a foot to deflect the shot away.
The Galaxy finally got back into the attack in the 26th minute. Donovan found Klein streaking into the box, and he then sent a ball from the end line to the back post, where Carlos Pavon jumped as high as he possibly could. He did meet the ball, but directed his header into the side netting on the wrong side of the post.
Gordon had another chance for the Galaxy in the 34th minute. Ante Jazic moved into the attack from his left back position to play a cross into the middle. Gordon got his head to the ball, but missed high and wide with his effort.
Pachuca rejoined the attack towards the tail end of the first half. Christian Gimenez tried a long range effort from 35 yards out that handcuffed Cannon just a bit, but the Galaxy keeper quickly recovered to smother the rebound.
The Galaxy started the opening minutes of the second half well, and generated a great chance off of a counter attack. From a corner kick clearance, Klein found Pavon making a run up the right flank. Pavon dribbled in from the midfield stripe, and with Gordon making a run at the back post, opted to shoot from the top of the area instead of passing. The shot from the Honduran international missed wide.
Gordon would get his chance in the 50th minute and opened the scoring for the home side. Donovan sent a ball into the area from deep in the midfield. Gordon took a touch to settle the ball and then fired a left-footed shot low underneath Pachuca 'keeper Miguel Calero.
Gordon was nearly gifted a goal less than 10 minutes later. On a looping cross played in from the left side, Pachuca defender Aquivaldo Mosquera and Calero got their signals crossed and allowed the ball to bounce inside the six-yard box. Gordon wasn't expecting the miscommunication and watched in agony as the ball bounced between him and a gaping net.
The Galaxy continued to press and in the 63rd nearly found the net again. Donovan sprung second-half substitute Quavas Kirk on the right wing. Kirk then played a ball along the turf where Pavon was making a near-post run. Pavon was able to turn a first-time shot on frame, but Calero plucked the ball off the ground right in front of an onrushing Gordon.
Pachuca, sensing the game getting away, quickly mounted an offensive. Gabriel Caballero mis-hit a side volley from point-blank range, and then Abel Xavier was forced to block a cross from inside the area seconds later.
A 68th-minute corner kick for Pachuca nearly tied the game up. Gimenez was on the receiving end as the ball was played short, and from the penalty arc he shot low and on target, only to see his shot deflected out for a corner by a scrambling Galaxy defense.
Los Angeles struggled to maintain any possession whatsoever, and it finally came back to bite them in the 78th minute. Damian Alvarez dribbled down the right side and crossed a ball right though the legs of Ty Harden. Lugo was making a run at the near post and tucked the ball past Cannon.
The goal immediately sparked Los Angeles back to life. Jones received a pass, dribbled into the center of the penalty area and shot towards goal. The shot deflected off Donovan, standing at the edge of the six with his back to goal, and was redirected into the back of the net to reclaim the lead for the home team.
Pachuca mounted a few late charges, but couldn't find the equalizer. With the win, the Galaxy moves into first place in Group A after a 1-1 draw in the other group game between FC Dallas and Chivas de Guadalajara. The Galaxy will take on Chivas on Saturday night, while Pachuca will travel to Texas to take on FC Dallas.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
