While the Los Angeles Galaxy weren't able to claim their first victory since April 29, they were still able to put an end to their seven-game losing slide against the top team in MLS, a late Cobi Jones equalizer giving them a 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Sunday at The Home Depot Center.
United's Christian Gomez gave the visitors a first-half lead with a stunning goal, but Jones scored in the 88th minute to pull the Galaxy level in Frank Yallop's second game in charge.
Playing for the second time in four days for their new head coach, the Galaxy came out full of energy, pressuring United and trying to make use of their home-field advantage. They had a good chance after just two minutes when Kyle Martino slipped a ball to John Wolyniec down the right flank. Wolyniec dribbled into the box and shot from an angle, only to see his effort sail high and wide.
Seven minutes later the Galaxy thought they had opened the scoring. Wolyniec lobbed a ball over the United back line to Herculez Gomez, and Gomez beat Troy Perkins to the ball and knocked it over the onrushing 'keeper's head into the back of the net. Just as the stadium began to erupt, the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Wolyniec continued to work hard up top for the Green and Gold, and took a beating. Gomez drove a cross along the edge of the six. Wolyniec laid out trying to win a diving header and instead met Perkins' fist with his head as the 'keeper punched clear.
United got their first real threat on goal in the 20th minute. Jaime Moreno laid a ball into the path of Clyde Simms, who unleashed a wicked shot from 30 yards out. The adidas ball that has caused goalkeepers fits at the World Cup forced Kevin Hartman to make a lunging save, punching the ball out for a corner kick.
A minute later D.C. opened the scoring, as Hartman had no answer for a brilliant individual effort by Gomez. Gomez With his back to goal, Gomez received a rolling pass from Facundo Erpen and with defender Ugo Ihemelu right on his back, flicked the ball over his head. He spun around the defender and hit a volley off the bounce from 25 yards out that sailed over Hartman's outstretched hand and dipped just under the crossbar.
Neither team looked particularly dangerous over the remainder of the half until the Galaxy's Tyrone Marshall made a long run forward from his center back position. Marshall juked and dribbled through a bevy of United defenders before picking out Josh Gardner with a pass. Gardner cut inside of Gomez, but shot harmlessly wide of the near post.
After the break, the Galaxy started to look more dangerous. In the 55th minute, second half substitute Alan Gordon chased a ball into the corner forcing a bad clearance from Brian Simms. Gardner intercepted the clearance, then fed the ball back to Gordon. Gordon dribbled into the box and shot towards the back post, but missed the target with his shot.
Ten minutes later United should have put the game away. Josh Gros ran onto a long pass from Gomez before rolling a pass along the top of the 18 to Moreno. The Bolivian hit a curling shot that left Hartman stranded, only for it to come back off the face of the post. The rebound landed at the feet of Lucio Filomeno, but he shot wide.
Jones came on in the 67th minute and began to have an immediate effect. First, Gardner broke down the left side on a counter attack before playing an early cross to the back post for Jones. He used his first touch to set up Gomez who spun and shot, but the effort was deflected wide for a corner kick at the last second.
Gomez then came close to scoring twice in a matter of moments. Jones first fed him down the right flank and Gomez used his speed to get in behind the defense, but wound up at a very sharp angle. Gomez directed his shot on frame, but right into the stomach of Perkins.
Moments later Todd Dunivant sent a long ball over the top of the D.C. rearguard. Again Gomez ran under the ball, this time firing a volley first time towards the back post that forced a terrific diving save from Perkins.
United seemed to be hanging on to their lead, and the decision proved fatal as Jones delivered the game-tying goal two minutes from time. Paulo Nagamura hit a long pass from the midfield stripe that took a slight deflection off the toe of a United defender. Jones continued his run toward the ball and was first to it with his speed, headed it around Perkins, and then with the United goalie tugging at his jersey, tucked the ball into the open net for the eventual leveller.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
