For 87 minutes on Sunday, D.C. United did almost everything right. Christian Gomez scored an early goal and the defense did well to slow a downtrodden Los Angeles Galaxy squad.
But United faltered in the final three minutes of the game and paid the price. Cobi Jones scored in the 88th minute to give the Galaxy a last-gasp 1-1 draw against United.
The draw snapped United's three-game winning streak and ensured that the club would leave southern California disappointed.
"It's a rough way to end the game," United defender Bobby Boswell said. "We got our goal like we wanted and were able to defend throughout the game but we gave up a goal at the end which pretty much defeats the purpose of what we wanted to do. They really poured it on in the end there and we didn't do a good job of regrouping."
Jones came on in the 67th minute and instantly generated a buzz. United countered by dropping left midfielder Joshua Gros deep on his side of the field.
"We covered for that. We didn't expect we were going to turn the ball over in a bad spot like we did," United coach Peter Nowak said. "An unlucky touch by Domenic Mediate gave Cobi a chance to score the goal."
United 'keeper Troy Perkins made a pair of stellar saves that kept United in the lead until Jones finally broke through in the 88th minute. Galaxy midfielder Paulo Nagamura sent a ball down the middle of the field that fooled United's Mediate. The ball bounced to Jones, who headed it past a hard-charging Perkins and knocked it into an empty net.
"Cobi is very intelligent and a very experienced player," Nowak said. "On these kinds of chances he will not miss."
The goal cancelled out a magnificent goal by Gomez. In the 21st minute, Gomez flicked a pass over himself and Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu. Gomez turned and darted past the flat-footed Ihemelu and fired the ball over Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and into the back of the net.
"Christian's goal was probably the goal of the year," Nowak said. "That was the highlight of this game."
As the game wore on, Galaxy attackers grew more and more desperate. The Galaxy, who had lost seven consecutive games entering Sunday, made offensive substitutions throughout the second half. Alan Gordon came on at halftime and had the ball in dangerous situations. Jones and Quavas Kirk came on later in the half and helped break down United's defense.
"They threw a lot of guys forward and we didn't just didn't adjust well," Boswell said. "We're not happy with the result. We should have won this game."
The Galaxy's desperate situation played a factor in the outcome, Nowak said.
"The Galaxy team is very desperate and it's always tough to play teams like that," Nowak said. "They have basically nothing to lose. They played at home so they're going to fight for the three points."
Still, with a bit more concentration and fitness United might have gotten the win, Nowak said.
"We were ready from the beginning but we didn't play our game," he said. "We didn't play up to our potential. I was pretty upset with a couple of guys. We need to get back to work and make sure the fitness part is going to be much better than it was today."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
