The Los Angeles Galaxy saw their winning streak come to an end -- and while it does not end their playoff dreams just yet, it certainly makes things harder -- after settling for a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls on MLS Primetime Thursday at The Home Depot Center.
Troy Roberts scored for the Galaxy, but his strike was answered one minute later by Jozy Altidore to arrive at the 1-1 final score.
The Galaxy came into the game controlling their own destiny, but that is now no longer the case. They need to defeat the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park, while having either the Kansas City Wizards lose to FC Dallas in Frisco on Saturday, or the Colorado Rapids fail to defeat Real Salt Lake at home, if they are going to make the MLS Cup Playoffs.
New York came out and pressed the attack from the opening whistle, effectively pinning the Galaxy in their own half for the quarter hour of the match. The first chance came in just the second minute when Altidore received a pass down the left flank and played a cross along the ground to Juan Pablo Angel. The Colombian got to the ball a split-second before a hard charging Joe Cannon, but could not get his shot past the Galaxy 'keeper.
Less than a minute later New York was at it again. The Red Bulls earned a corner kick that the Galaxy managed to clear, but New York maintained possession. As they reworked the ball into the attacking third, Seth Stammler crossed the ball into the area, but Angel directed his header wide of the goal.
New York continued to dominate the possession, but it was the Galaxy who got the game's first goal against the run of play in the 15th minute. From a failed corner, the ball went back to Landon Donovan on the left flank. He sent in a cross that Jon Conway wasn't able to get his hands on, allowing roberts to nod home the cross at the back post.
However, the lead was short-lived. Off the restart New York went flying down the left flank. Dave van den Bergh crossed the ball to an unmarked Altidore in the middle of the penalty area, and the U.S. youth international flicked a header past Cannon to level the score.
The Galaxy went in search of a goal themselves off the restart. Chris Klein fed a pass into the middle of the New York penalty area for Donovan, but he squibbed his first-time effort wide of the target.
From there the game turned into a track meet. Both teams traded forays into the attack with near misses on either end. By the half-hour mark it looked as though the potential for another nine-goal game between the two sides, as in their first meeting this year in August.
In the 35th minute, Donovan passed the ball off to Klein, who dribbled into the penalty area. From a sharp angle Klein fired towards the near post, but Conway made the save. The rebound was quickly cleared by the New York defense, relieving the danger.
New York probably should have scored its second goal of the game and Angel should have had his 20th of the season in the 40th minute. New York caught the Galaxy pushed too far up the field and countered well. Wolyniec crossed the ball to Angel, who collected the ball around the penalty spot. Rather than fire off a quick shot, Angel juked Troy Roberts to free himself for an attempt, but missed high and wide to the right.
The pace of the first half didn't slow down for either side after the break. The Galaxy pushed into the attack straightaway as Carlos Pavon found Donovan, who then swung a ball out to Klein. Klein tried to whip a ball back into the middle for Donovan, but Conway came off his line to intercept the cross.
In the 49th minute Dane Richards squirted free down the right flank and caused fits for Galaxy left fullback Mike Randolph. Richards dribbled into the penalty area and fed Angel, who once again found himself seemingly with the goal at his mercy, but Roberts managed to slide in and block the shot before it could get through on goal.
Five minutes later it was Richards again causing problems. Stammler slipped Richards in behind the Galaxy back four and from a sharp angle the rookie tried to beat Cannon at the near post, but the Galaxy 'keeper was equal to the task, punching the shot out for a corner kick.
Altidore won a freekick for New York in the 61st minute. Angel stepped over the ball from 30 yards out and bent a ball over the wall towards goal. The shot didn't miss by much, as it scraped the outside of the net -- though many watching both at The Home Depot Center and on television thought it found the back of the net.
The Galaxy tried to answer in the 64th minute. Donovan intercepted a clearing pass and took off, running at the Red Bulls defense. Donovan raced past a slew of defenders outside the left post and played a ball across the goalmouth, but it was just a step too far in front of the run of Pavon.
Two minutes later the Galaxy nearly went ahead. Chris Klein hit a wicked cross to the near post and Pete Vagenas ran onto the cross, and redirected the ball on goal, but only a fantastic reaction save from Conway kept the score level.
In the 67th minute, David Beckham entered the game as the Galaxy's third and final substitution. Beckham showed little hesitation in fully returning to the fray, as he was whistled for a foul with his first touch of the game.
Beckham got involved in the attack, too, in the 77th minute. The Galaxy won a corner kick, and Beckham played a short ball to Josh Tudela. Tudela fired first time from the top of the 18, forcing a diving save from Conway.
In stoppage time, the Galaxy's season nearly came to a sudden and dramatic end. Altidore got free in the right side of the area and sent a low shot ticketed for the far post, but it just slipped outside the goal.
Without a decisive goal, the Galaxy's playoff hopes now lie in the hands of Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas. Both of those teams will have to get some sort of result against Colorado and Kansas City respectively if the Galaxy are going to make it into the playoffs. If Colorado wins, and Kansas City gets at least one point, then LA's season will end regardless of their result Sunday at Toyota Park.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
