A pair of first-half goals from Herculez Gomez gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a huge six-point swing in the Western Conference as they defeated FC Dallas 2-1 on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center, giving the home side the advantage for the second seed and home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
Just three days after the teams met in the U.S. Open Cup Final -- also won by the Galaxy through a Gomez goal -- the two sides came out with lineups that were very similar.
But Ned Grabavoy, who didn't play Wednesday night, provided the fresh legs and the offensive spark for the home team early on. He made his presence felt almost immediately making a long run that started in his defensive third, and didn't end until he was taken down just outside the right edge of the Hoops penalty area.
On the ensuing free kick, Grabavoy picked out Chris Albright with a cross, but the defender's header was directed right into the arms of FCD 'keeper Scott Garlick.
In the 11th minute Grabavoy was at it again, making another run inside the FC Dallas penalty area. The second-year man played a rolling ball along the top edge of the six-yard box that Gomez got on the end of, but his first touch got tangled in his legs and popped out of his reach and right to Garlick.
A minute later, Grabavoy and Gomez combined again, this time Grabavoy playing a long through ball to Gomez. Gomez outran Clarence Goodson to the ball then bumped him off with a shoulder charge at the top of the penalty area. Gomez maintained his balance, collected himself and banged a shot off the inside of the post and into the back of the net.
In the 29th minute, the bad blood from Wednesday night's game carried over. Gomez, now a marked man, got up after a hard challenge from Dallas defender Greg Vanney and instigated a shoving match near midfield. The scuffle garnered Gomez a yellow card and added a contentious element to an already important game.
FCD finally recorded their first shot on target in the 38th minute. Oscar Pareja mustered up a long-range effort that forced Kevin Hartman to make his first save, but never really challenged him.
Against the run of play, Dallas knotted things up in the 42nd minute. Ugo Ihemelu attempted to clear a ball while battling FCD striker Roberto Mina in the area, but could only get a toe to it. Pitchkolan ran onto the clearance attempt and ripped a volley from 19 yards out into the top corner of the net that Hartman had no chance of saving.
Just before the halftime whistle Gomez reclaimed the lead for his side. He intercepted a bad touch by David Wagenfuhr, headed the ball into his path, and outran Wagenfuhr. Garlick charged off his line to try and cut down the angle, but got caught in no man's land, allowing Gomez to chip the ball over him and into the net.
Neither side made any changes to start the second half, but Dallas was forced to adjust when Vanney was shown a straight red in the 50th minute after bringing down Joseph Ngwenya just outside the penalty area.
Grabavoy then stepped up to take the free kick and sent it curling around the post, and just inches wide of the goal.
FCD nearly leveled things again in the 59th minute. Mina received a pass inside the Galaxy area, and dribbled around trying to free himself for a shot. He eventually cut back into the middle and pulled the trigger from near the penalty spot, but fired high.
With the game moving on, Dallas began to push more players into the attack looking for the second goal. As a result, the Galaxy found more and more space going forward on counterattacks. Time and time again the Galaxy speed generated numbers up situations, but the final pass never materialized for the home side.
Even a man down, the Hoops were creating just as many chances in the second half as the Galaxy, and right on 82 minutes, Mark Wilson forced a sprawling save from Hartman.
On the ensuing corner kick, the Galaxy cleared the ball then launched a dangerous counter attack. Cobi Jones got free on a breakaway, but his shot was on a sharp angle and while on target, forced a tough save to be made by Garlick.
The finishing touch eluded the Galaxy again in the 87th minute. Grabavoy fed Gomez who dribbled into the box. He then laid off a pass to Ngwenya, who found Pete Vagenas lurking at the back post, and he fired from six yards out, but right into the body of Garlick. The rebound popped up in the air, but Vagenas put his header wide.
Then in the 89th minute, two second half subs combined for a near miss. Alan Gordon fed Guillermo Ramirez on a breakaway, and the Guatemalan dribbled in alone on Garlick, but put his shot wide of the post.
Gomez then missed out on his hat trick. He too went in on a breakaway in the dying moments of the half, but instead of missing the target, he hit Garlick square in the legs with his shot.
Thankfully for the home side the bevy of missed opportunities never came back to bite them, and the defense held on for the win. With the win, the Galaxy moved two points ahead of FC Dallas while maintaining their five-point lead ahead of Colorado. The win also marked the first time the Galaxy has won three games in a row since the opening month of the season.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Herculez Gomez (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
