CARSON, Calif. - For the first 45 minutes Sunday, the Los Angeles Galaxy played their best soccer since Frank Yallop took over as coach on June 7. Players made timely runs and connected on well-placed crosses while keeping their opponents on their heels.
The only thing missing was the finish.
"We played probably the best since I've been here for 45 minutes. Exceptional play, not just lucky chances," Yallop said. "We had very good, clear-cut chances to score goals and we didn't."
Houston Dynamo took advantage and beat the Galaxy 2-1 on Sunday at The Home Depot Center. Landon Donovan scored the club's only goal in the 29th minute but the second goal that was so close ultimately never materialized.
"We kicked their [butts] in every department except set pieces and the score and that's obviously two really big parts of the game," Donovan said. "That's disappointing but you can't fault the effort and the way we played them. That's as well as we've played in a long time."
The Galaxy walked away with a shaky situation. At the bottom of the Western Conference table, the Galaxy could be six points out of the playoffs the next time the club takes the field if Colorado and Chivas USA both win their respective matches on Sunday.
With five games remaining, there is no room for error.
"We're obviously very disappointed to lose the game and lose at home. At this stage of the season, we need to be getting points, not losing them," Yallop said. "We should have scored more than one goal in the first half and that came back to haunt us."
Old nemesis Dwayne De Rosario bagged the game-winner in the 56th minute. The play leading to the goal was fluky and indicative of the Galaxy's luck of late. Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas stopped Houston's Brad Davis from slicing through the heart of the Galaxy's midfield but unintentionally kicked the ball back into his own penalty area.
De Rosario pounced on the ball, rounded Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman and netted the game-winner.
"We had possession of the ball in the defensive midfield and when you have it there the one thing you can't do is lose it," Hartman said. "Unfortunately, we lost it and as soon as you lose it in that portion of the field it's one pass away from a breakaway."
Hartman said he charged early at De Rosario to give Ugo Ihemelu time to recuperate and try to thwart De Rosario's shot.
"I was trying to buy us time because I knew Ugo was coming but he scooped it over Ugo as well," Hartman said. "It's a classy finish but at the end of the day we [gave] the ball away in a pretty bad portion of the field."
Despite climbing back into the playoff picture, Galaxy players have ultimately been unable to overcome their own mistakes.
"It really comes down to one mistake," Hartman said. "Between my mistake in Salt Lake, Ugo's mistake in Colorado and maybe Pete's mistake tonight, it's been really tough to battle through those things."
The Galaxy lost all three of those matches. On Sunday, however, the Galaxy had a better offensive effort than the other two losses, both 1-0 road setbacks.
Still, Yallop said the club is lacking the final piece in becoming a true contender.
"We've played pretty well. We just maybe haven't gotten that killer instinct as a team quite yet," Yallop said. "I think that's maybe the last thing that comes where we win it in one half and see the game out the rest of the way. But you've got to give credit to Houston. They stuck in there and dug the result out."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
