Clint Dempsey scored in the 33rd minute and the New England Revolution kept the defending champions scoreless, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 at The Home Depot Center in the season opener Saturday night.
Prior to the match, the Galaxy received their championship rings for winning MLS Cup 2005 -- 1-0 in extra-time against the same Revolution -- at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. The club also honored the life of former president and general manager Doug Hamilton, who passed away in March.
Dempsey's goal was one of few clear scoring chances either team had all night as both clubs took time in shaking off the preseason cobwebs. The Revolution's defense, though, stood firm and kept Galaxy superstar Landon Donovan from creating much offense by keeping the ball away from him.
The Revolution's Matt Reis passed his first test of the night when he dived to stop a low free kick blast from the Galaxy's Herculez Gomez just six minutes in. Reis again kept the dangerous Gomez at bay in the ninth minute when he pushed aside Gomez's shot.
The Revs fought off the Galaxy again in the 11th minute when Revs defender James Riley cleared a dangerous pass sent in from the right flank by the Galaxy's Chris Albright.
Through the first quarter-hour, it was the MLS champs who controlled the tempo and the majority of possession. The Revs barely tested Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman as Revolution defenders were on their heels throughout the early stages of the match.
The Revolution finally showed signs of offensive life in the 21st minute. Andy Dorman fired a corner kick to the far post that landed at Pat Noonan's feet. Noonan held the ball for a second and unloaded a shot on goal but Galaxy defender Nathan Sturgis cleared the ball from danger.
In the 25th minute, Peter Vagenas continued peppering the Revolution goal with shots. Reis pushed Vagenas' twisting half-scissors kick safely out of bounds, though.
Three minutes later, New England had apparently broken through but referee Abbey Okulaja disallowed the 28th-minute goal. Dempsey sailed a ball from the right side of the area to the corner of the goal but Taylor Twellman leapt and made contact with Galaxy 'keeper Hartman as the ball sailed overhead and into the back of the net.
No matter. Dempsey left no doubt five minutes later when he scored the Revolution's first goal of the season. Dorman swung a free kick to the front of the goal from the left hand edge of the penalty area. Dempsey slid untouched to the ball and knocked it past a helpless Hartman. The goal continued Dempsey's tremendous 2006 run -- with the United States national team, Dempsey scored two goals this winter.
The Revolution continued to put pressure on the Galaxy net early in the second half. Joe Franchino nearly slipped a ball past Hartman, but the Galaxy 'keeper did well to stop point-blank shot.
With a quarter-hour left, the Galaxy apparently felt the pressure from the home crowd and stepped up their offensive pressure. Aside from some dangerous passing just outside the Revolution's penalty area, however, the Galaxy did little to change the flow of the game.
In fact, it was the Revs who nearly capitalized in the form of a counterattack. But Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall thwarted a counter sparked by Dempsey and Twellman.
The Galaxy won several corner kicks in the final quarter-hour but Revolution defenders stood firm on all of them. The most dangerous opportunity came in the 89th minute when second-half substitute Ned Grabavoy fired a laser into the area that was cleared safely out of harm's way.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
