Five MLS teams were in action in three exhibition matches Tuesday. While the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 and Houston Dynamo and the New York Red Bulls tied 1-1 in Carson, Calif., D.C. United downed Florida International University 5-3 in Sunrise, Fla.
After going down a goal early in the first half to the Fire, the Galaxy mounted a comeback, with U.S. international Chris Albright bagging the winner in the 66th minute.
Chris Rolfe got the Men in Red on the board in the 14th minute. The third-year man was hauled down in the box by Tyrone Marshall, and Rolfe converted the ensuing penalty kick, putting the ball high and to the left of Galaxy 'keeper Joe Cannon.
Marshall made amends for his earlier miscue by drawing the Green-and-Gold level in the 22nd minute. He rose to meet a Josh Gardner free kick, heading the ball past the Fire's starting 'keeper Matt Pickens.
Albright came off the bench in the second half to play the hero. After collecting a loose ball in traffic 35 yards from goal, he ripped a low shot that snuck inside the far post past substitute 'keeper Nick Noble.
"I don't think we looked real sharp," said Fire coach Dave Sarachan. "But as I've said before, we're not so much concerned about game results, it's more about our ball movement, possession and conditioning. We're working with different combinations and getting our timing down. You can always draw positives from a match like this."
Also at The Home Depot Center, the Red Bulls and Dynamo played to a 1-1 draw, with all of the scoring coming in the first quarter of the match.
John Wolyniec opened the scoring for New York in the 11th minute after a sequence of outstanding passes. Dema Kovalenko started the play with a diagonal ball from the right flank to the left to Dave van den Bergh. The Dutchman slipped a pass to the overlapping Todd Dunivant, who one-timed a cross into the box for Wolyniec to head home.
Dynamo drew even just 10 minutes later through Brian Ching. The Hawaii native side-footed an arcing Brian Mullan cross into the net past Ronald Waterreus.
The Red Bulls 'keeper came up huge on the half-hour mark, twice denying Paul Dalglish to keep the score level. After Taylor Graham took down Brad Davis in the area, Dalglish stepped up to take the penalty kick.
Dalglish's shot to Waterreus' right was well placed, but the Dutchman dove to make a fine save. He recovered quickly to also stop Dalglish's diving header off the rebound.
In Florida, D.C. United won a thriller against Florida International in a game that was divided into three 30-minute periods.
The Panthers got on the board just three minutes into the match, but United equalized 10 minutes later as Christian Gomez lofted a ball over the top to Brian Carroll, who hit a first-time volley into the net.
United made wholesale changes at the 30-minute mark, replacing all but goalkeeper Jay Nolly from the starting 11. Guy Kpene then gave United the lead by finishing a simple square ball from Rod Dyachenko.
Florida International leveled matters again in the 49th minute, but again United hit back quickly, Jamil Walker getting on the score sheet after Jeff Carroll played the ball across the goalmouth.
Refusing to be denied, the Panthers tied the game again with a long-range goal just before the end of the second period. United, however, took over in the third period.
Midway through the third frame, Jeff Carroll scored United's fourth goal, and Kpene finished off the Panthers in the 78th minute.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
