The Los Angeles Galaxy needed a win. After dodging some early bullets, then seeing the Kansas City Wizards have two players sent off, the Galaxy got just that, defeating the Kansas City Wizards 1-0 on Thursday evening.
The victory gave the Galaxy back-to-back wins for the first time all season, and started a three-game stretch of road games off on the right foot. It also gave the Galaxy's playoff hopes a huge boost, getting three points from one of their games in hand.
"I felt comfortable tonight for some reason, I just felt like we got that little bit of lady luck when we needed it, which we haven't had all year," said Galaxy coach Frank Yallop.
It was also the Galaxy's first win on the road all season. They hadn't won a road match since Aug. 26, 2006 against D.C. United.
"Home wins are important, but definitely on the road it showed the character of this team," said Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
The win left the Galaxy with 24 points, in 11th place overall, with five games remaining. Next up is a huge match against the Columbus Crew on Sunday, for both teams' postseason aspirations. The Crew head into the weekend just a point behind the Chicago Fire for the final playoff spot; the Galaxy are eight points back.
"We put ourselves in this position, Cannon said. "We've given up too many points in the past."
Early on Eddie Johnson tested the Galaxy defense; he had a number of good opportunities and beat Cannon on a couple, but neither found the net (though one did find the post). Galaxy defender Troy Roberts also tested Cannon with a couple of deflections toward his own goal.
But the Galaxy defense stiffened and recorded its first clean sheet since Aug. 5, a stretch of 11 games where they had allowed 25 goals.
"Give the guys credit, especially the guys on the back line," Cannon said. "They're still improving; they're getting better every game."
The winning goal came from Gavin Glinton, who had replaced midfielder Cobi Jones. He provided a spark to the Galaxy attack -- which was also helped when Jimmy Conrad was sent off in the 57th minute, leaving the Wizards a man down.
"You have to come in and give the team a lift," Glinton said. "You have some guys who have been out there busting their butt for 50 or 60 minutes at a time."
In the 80th minute, the breakthrough finally came. Glinton thought that he was going to get the ball earlier, but Mike Randolph, outside the penalty area on the left, was slowed by two defenders. Glinton ducked toward the middle of the goal, and when the service was delivered, he delivered the game winning goal.
"You just put yourself in the right position and hope you get the ball," Glinton said. "When you get it, you have to make sure you score on it."
After a long season with games seemingly every other day and most on the road, the Galaxy were able to fight through and come away with the three points that at least kept their season alive. And, possibly, even turned it around with just a few weeks left.
"They kept going to the end and it was a huge win for us," Yallop said.
Thomas Foote is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
