Landon Donovan and David Beckham both returned to the scoring column and Edson Buddle continued his goal scoring form and the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3-1 Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Claudio Lopez gave the Wizards the lead with a goal late in the first half, but Donovan converted a penalty early in the second, then Buddle and Beckham scored over the final quarter hour to send the Galaxy to the top spot in the Western Conference standings as they won back-to-back games for the first time all season.
The game was wide open from the opening whistle, with Kansas City committing numbers forward and Los Angeles looking for opportunities to counter. High pressure in the midfield meant that both sides had early chances to get on the board.
In just the eighth minute, Donovan nearly added to his league-leading goal tally. Beckham found Buddle with a long ball out of the midfield, and Buddle nodded the ball down into space where Donovan sprinted into the box. In alone on goal, Donovan fired from close range, but Kevin Hartman made a great point-blank save to keep the game scoreless.
Kansas City answered with a chance of their own just three minutes later. Following a turnover in midfield, Lopez slipped a through ball to Scott Sealy inside the area. Sealy took a touch to settle but his shot was directed right at Steve Cronin, who made a kick save of his own to keep things level.
The game continued at a frenetic pace, but with neither team really generating any dangerous chances. Buddle headed a Beckham cross well wide of the mark for the Galaxy, while Lopez managed a weak effort from long range forcing a rather routine save from Cronin.
In the 34th minute, the Galaxy managed to elicit groans from their home faithful, as they came tantalizingly close. A perfectly weighted Beckham free kick found rattled around in the box before being sent goalbound by Chris Klein. The ball deflected to Sean Franklin, who hit a volley that rolled wide of the back post.
As close as the Galaxy came, it was Kansas City that opened the scoring in the 40th minute. Lopez made a weaving run through the Galaxy defense, setting up his left foot at the edge of the box. The former Argentinean international found the side netting past a diving Cronin to give the visitors the lead.
Los Angeles had almost an immediate answer. Alvaro Pires picked out Beckham with a beautiful long ball out of midfield and he headed the ball past Michael Harrington then sprinted in on goal. Beckham shot from a sharp angle, but Hartman was perfectly positioned and kicked the ball clear.
The Galaxy came out intent to find the equalizer, and dominated the early possession after the break. Finally, in the 53rd minute, Beckham found Donovan in the box. As Donovan took a touch towards goal he was brought down by Tyson Wahl, winning a penalty. Donovan stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot to level the score.
Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit, not content with a draw, brought on Alan Gordon for Brandon McDonald before the restart, and dropped Donovan into an attacking midfield role. Offense was the priority, and LA came close to scoring again seconds later. Beckham was again the catalyst, this time finding Buddle at the top of the area. Buddle got off a powerful shot, but Hartman punched the ball up and over his crossbar.
Los Angeles continued to press forward, and in the 61st minute, Beckham floated a ball over the top for Donovan to run onto. The U.S. international held the ball up, then found Ely Allen on the left side. The rookie was clear in on goal, but failed to find the target with his shot, shooting well wide of the back post.
It was all LA well into the second half. The Galaxy gained an advantage off a passive offside call and Donovan sent a dangerous ball into the area that bounced past two players and skipped just wide of a lunging boot from Gordon.
The Galaxy finally broke through and took the lead in the 74th minute. Some great passing through the midfield got Donovan loose near the top of the restraining arc. Donovan poked the ball through the K.C. back line for Buddle, who finished with a low shot inside the back post.
Despite LA's second half dominance, the Wizards nearly tied the game with their first real scoring chance of the second half. Lopez got in behind the Galaxy defense, and with Cronin way off his line, found Sealy on the right side. The Galaxy defense recovered well, allowing Cronin to get back into the play, as he made a great diving save on Sealy's first shot. The rebound came back to Sealy, who shot again, but Klein got back to clear the ball off the line.
Even with the late lead, Gullit continued to make offensive substitutions, bringing on Carlos Ruiz for Landon Donovan in the 84th minute. It was the first time Ruiz has been on the field at The Home Depot Center in a Galaxy jersey since being traded away before the 2005 season.
The Galaxy managed several more forays into the Kansas City final third, but failed to extend the lead despite several close calls. It wasn't until late into stoppage time that LA found that insurance goal, in dramatic fashion.
With Kevin Hartman all the way up for a late corner kick, the ball squirted out to Beckham. Beckham dribbled out, and then from about 10 yards behind the midfield stripe, he drove the ball into the empty net.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
