For the first time this season the Los Angeles Galaxy came from behind to win a game. Playing a man up for the final 66 minutes, Chris Klein hit what will no doubt be a candidate for Goal of the Week honors, ripping home a blast from outside the area to give the Galaxy a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Sunday evening at The Home Depot Center.
Dax McCarty had given FC Dallas an 11th-minute lead against the run of play, then the game changed. Chris Gbandi was shown two yellow cards in a three-minute span, the second on a foul in the penalty area, and Landon Donovan converted the resulting penalty kick.
The Galaxy then took advantage of their man-up situation as they completely dominated the second half of play with Klein's winner providing the first of their "must-wins". The Galaxy are still in last place overall in the MLS table, but are 11 points behind eighth-place Chicago with six matches left to play.
The last time the teams met, the Galaxy took a 6-5 victory in Frisco in SuperLiga. While 11 goals weren't in the cards Sunday, the attacks wasted little time in getting things started.
As early as the sixth minute Dallas was pushing for the opening goal. Dominic Oduro got loose on the right wing and cut a ball back to Carlos Ruiz at the top of the 18. Ruiz's shot was blocked by Ty Harden, but the rebound fell to Arturo Alvarez whose powerful shot forced Joe Cannon to make a two-handed save, pushing the ball over the crossbar.
The Galaxy came right back at Dallas, and a minute later created a glorious scoring opportunity. Klein played a long ball out of midfield to Landon Donovan. Donovan had slipped in behind the Dallas back four, brought the ball down with his chest and tried to beat Dario Sala with a left-footed shot to the back post, but it rolled just wide.
The back and forth action of the first half continued and in the 11th minute, FC Dallas opened the scoring. Gbandi came forward from his left fullback position and sent a cross into the middle. Ruiz dummied the ball past as it also bounced between a pair of Galaxy defenders and McCarty was first to it, hitting a shot on the half-turn inside the back post.
As the half wore on things started to get a bit chippy. On a Dallas break Kevin Harmse brought down Gbandi. Referee Michael Kennedy played the advantage, but as Gbandi got up and Harmse raced by, the Dallas player clipped him. Both players were shown yellow on the play, and for Gbandi, it would prove decisive just two minutes later.
In the 23rd minute the Galaxy won a free kick at the edge of the offensive third. Donovan curled the ball to the back post where Chris Klein had worked himself free. Beaten on the play, Gbandi pulled down Klein from behind in the box and the Galaxy had won a penalty kick. To add insult to injury, Gbandi was shown his second yellow card and sent off.
Donovan stepped up and took the resulting penalty. He shot to his left, but Sala made the save. Although Donovan knocked in the resulting rebound, the linesman however had ruled that Sala had left his line too early and the kick had to be retaken. The U.S. international made no mistake the second time, burying a shot to his right to even the score, then slamming the ball back into the goal after it bounced out, just to make sure.
The match quieted down from there and few opportunities arose in front of goal for either team the rest of the half. As the second half opened the Galaxy started to take advantage of their extra man, pushing forward and earning a series of corner kicks.
In the 51st minute they nearly capitalized. Gordon won a header at the penalty spot that beat Sala. McCarty got in the way and appeared to block the ball off the line with his hand, but the referee allowed play to continue and Dallas cleared the danger.
Dallas managed to weather the storm, and after a 15-minute onslaught the game quieted down enough for the Hoops to push forward. On a rare second half foray into the Galaxy half, Juan Toja slipped a couple of defenders and blasted a left-footed shot just wide of the post to breath some life back into the visitors.
Unable to get the breakthrough they were looking for, Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop went to the bench to bring on Carlos Pavon for an otherwise ineffective Quavas Kirk. But just seconds into the game Pavon blew a wide-open chance. Cobi Jones put a ball across the goalmouth where Pavon was lurking at the back post. The Honduran played the bouncing ball first time, but missed over the top of a wide-open net.
The Galaxy finally found the go-ahead goal on a cracking shot from Klein in the 72nd minute. Jones dribbled in on the left side, playing a cross along the ground that ran all the way through the top of the area. Klein, who had ventured forward from his right back post, controlled the ball outside the area, took a touch and ripped it into the upper corner of the net to give the Galaxy the lead.
Pavon had a chance to double the Galaxy lead in the 79th minute. He beat the FCD offside trap and had 30 yards of real estate to work with. With Sala well off his line Pavon tried to beat him with a low shot, but the Dallas 'keeper made a rather easy save at the edge of the penalty area.
Dallas mounted a late charge and in the 88th minute had a chance to even things up. Arturo Alvarez made a dazzling run through midfield, beating three defenders along the way. His run ended inside the area, but rather than shoot with his right foot, he sent a feeble effort with the outside of his preferred left foot straight to Cannon.
That was the last good effort Dallas put forth, as the Galaxy won for just the fifth time in league play this season. Los Angeles will take their win on the road as they begin a three-game road swing, beginning on Thursday in Kansas City, while FC Dallas can try again to secure a playoff spot, needing a victory when they visit Houston next Sunday.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
