The Los Angeles Galaxy earned three vital points with a 2-0 win against FC Dallas at The Home Depot Center on Sunday night.
The Galaxy needed a win in order to keep pace with a streaking Real Salt Lake, who won on Saturday, and gain ground on Chivas USA and the Colorado Rapids, who both drew Saturday night.
Los Angeles was paced by Landon Donovan and Santino Quaranta who both scored in the first half. Kevin Hartman kept another clean sheet, as he and the rest of the Galaxy defense continued their fine form under head coach Frank Yallop.
The Galaxy came out firing right from the opening whistle. In the first minute of action, Donovan won a jump ball and flicked the ball forward for Alan Gordon. Gordon, who recently returned from a short loan spell with the USL First Division's Portland Timbers, dribbled in on Dario Sala and fired a low shot that was kicked aside by the Dallas 'keeper.
Former Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz nearly got the away side on the board in the 7th minute in dramatic style. After narrowly missing a cross from the right flank, Ruiz picked himself up off the turf in time to attempt a bicycle kick off of a David Wagenfuhr cross. Ruiz made solid contact with his acrobatic shot, but missed just wide of the upright.
The next several chances belonged to the Galaxy. Donovan was all over the pitch trying to connect with crosses coming in from all angles. First it was Cobi Jones who worked himself free down the left side to send a cross towards the near post. Donovan was quick to the ball, but didn't quite have the elevation to reach it as the cross barely sailed over his head by inches.
Donovan's hard work finally paid off in the 26th minute. Second-year defender Troy Roberts played a long ball out of the back intended for Donovan. The U.S. international beat Greg Vanney to the ball and managed to poke the ball over the head of Sala, who played way off of his line to try and pluck the ball out of the air. Sala helplessly watched Donovan's shot roll into the empty net behind him to open the scoring.
Chances went back and forth over the final 10 minutes of the half. Kenny Cooper had a pair of chances late in the half. The first came in the 39th minute when Cooper worked himself free inside the penalty area. He turned and fired with his left foot, but the shot rolled wide of the back post.
Minutes later Cooper got aerial with a bicycle kick of his own. He wasn't as graceful as his Guatemalan teammate, and his effort flew over the crossbar, never troubling Hartman.
In first-half stoppage time, Quaranta tried a long-range effort. His 35-yard blast was just outside the reach of a diving Sala, and dented the back of the net to double the Galaxy lead just before the intermission.
Los Angeles came out of the locker room looking to extend the lead. Gordon led another counterattack that eventually led to Donovan feeding defender Chris Albright down the right wing. Albright won a 50/50 challenge with Chris Gbandi then cut a ball back through the penalty area. A pair of Galaxy attackers fanned on the cross though, and the ball was cleared.
In the 54th minute Dallas tried to get back into the match as Gbandi joined the attack from his left fullback position and fed a cross to the top of the penalty area. Ruiz rose up and won the ball, but his header bounced wide of the post.
Minutes later, FCD nearly equalized from a corner kick. An initial clearance was collected by midfielder Richard Mulrooney at the top corner of the penalty area. He played a ball to the back post, intended for Simo Valakari. But Valakari and Hartman met the ball simultaneously, colliding in midair, with Hartman getting the better of the challenge and winning a goal kick.
Dallas won a free kick in the 65th minute that nearly evolved into a goal. Mulrooney whipped a dangerous ball into the area. Los Angeles failed to clear however, and from 12 yards out Valakari hit a volley just over the bar.
Dallas kept up the pressure as the second half wore on. Second-half substitute Dominic Oduro worked himself free inside the area and drove a low cross along the edge of the six. Ruiz again just missed the ball, and the two-goal lead was preserved for the home side.
With all of the pressure that Dallas applied, the Galaxy were finally able to mount a counterattack in the 80th minute. Gardner fed Donovan, who broke fee with Gordon for a two on one. Donovan fed Gordon, who took a touch before shooting from inside the area. Only a sprawling save from Sala kept Gordon off the scoresheet. Quavas Kirk followed up, but Sala kicked the rebound attempt away.
Sala nearly gifted the Galaxy a goal minutes later. Gardner intercepted a throw by the Dallas 'keeper and played a cross to Kirk, who was wide open at the back post. Kirk mistimed his jump though, and couldn't hang in the air long enough to get his header on target.
The Galaxy closed up shop the rest of the half. Los Angeles takes three points into a busy week next week. On tap is a Wednesday night U.S. Open Cup contest against Colorado. Then, it's back to the playoff chase at RFK Stadium against D.C. United on Saturday.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
