Los Angeles Galaxy original Cobi Jones celebrated his birthday with what proved to be the game-winning goal as his team picked up three desperately needed points in a 3-2 win against visiting Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center on Sunday evening.
The 65th-minute goal from Jones doubled the Galaxy lead in the second half and offset a two-goal performance from RSL's Chris Brown. Nate Jaqua scored his first goal of the season to give the Galaxy an early lead, and Edson Buddle also scored in his first game in a Los Angeles uniform.
The game served as a bit of a goal-scoring explosion for a pair of teams which had been among the league's lowest scoring this season. But that would have come as a surprise early on, as fans barely had time to take their seats before the floodgates opened.
It took just three minutes for the Galaxy to open the scoring through Jaqua. He took advantage of a lazy back pass by RSL defender Daniel Torres, racing past the Costa Rican to intercept the pass and go in alone on goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Jaqua's initial shot slowly rolled past Rimando, and Torres hustled back to clear the shot off the line, only to bang it off the post. Jaqua stayed with the play and buried the rebound into the back of the net.
Los Angeles barely had time to celebrate, though, as Salt Lake equalized just two minutes later. Brown collected a pass near the top of the 18 and walked through three Galaxy defenders in tight quarters on his way to goal. Brown shot high to the near post, beating Cannon to draw the two sides level.
Los Angeles and Salt Lake traded a pair of free kicks that both saw headers fly over the crossbar, and then in the 22nd minute, Chris Klein had a great chance to break the deadlock. He beat an offside trap by the Galaxy to get behind the defense and in alone on Cannon. Cannon charged hard off his line to cut down the angle and stood his ground to make a kick save on Klein's shot.
The Galaxy punished Salt Lake in the 25th minute to take the lead. It was the two newest members of the Galaxy who combined for the goal. Abel Xavier drove a long ball over the top of the RSL defense intended for Buddle. The young striker, acquired from Toronto FC late last week, outpaced Ritchie Kotchau to the ball and sprinted in on goal. From the right corner of the area, Buddle ripped a shot past Rimando and into the side netting.
The last 20 minutes of the half remained wide open, but neither team was able to generate any quality scoring chances. With both teams desperate for points, it was the Galaxy that came out the more aggressive side to start the second half.
The field certainly seemed titled towards the Galaxy offensive third, and in just the 48th minute, Buddle nearly picked up his second goal in a Galaxy jersey. After a series of sustained pressure, the Galaxy won a corner kick. Martino drove the ball into the area and Buddle rattled the crossbar with a header.
The Galaxy continued to dominate possession, and in the 63rd minute, Los Angeles worked a nice combination going forward, forcing a dicey clearance by Klein. The RSL midfielder tried to clear the ball out for a corner, instead knocking the ball off his own crossbar.
The Galaxy finally broke through again two minutes later. Kyle Veris dribbled out of the back and picked out Martino, who was making a run up the left flank. Martino made a great penetrating run into the area and floated a low cross to the back post. Jones, who turned 37 years old on Saturday, was lurking at the back post and side-footed a shot into the back of the net.
The pressure continued for the Galaxy, and Jones sent second-half substitute Robbie Findley clean through. The rookie played a ball along the ground right through the six-yard box and from a sharp angle, Martino shot right into Rimando. On the same sequence, Martino crossed the ball back into the area where Findley drove a header right into the arms of Rimando.
The sustained pressure finally sparked something in Salt Lake, who started to push forward. Brown nearly broke through when Klein found him with a looping ball over the top of the Galaxy defense. With Cannon charging hard off of his line, Brown got to the ball first and tried to flick it over Cannon, but missed wide of the target.
Brown did get his second of the contest in the 73rd minute. Salt Lake won a corner kick and Freddy Adu played a ball to the back post. Brown beat his defender and headed a powerful shot in past Cannon to halve the deficit.
Salt Lake continued to look for the tying goal and worked a good scoring chance in the 78th minute off of a free kick. Adu tapped the ball to Klein, who drove a low shot under the wall on target from 25 yards out, but Cannon was perfectly placed to make the save.
The Galaxy again came close in the 83rd minute. Substitute Gavin Glinton, making his first appearance for the Galaxy this season, got in behind the defense and took a powerful shot aimed at the near post. Only a good reaction save from Rimando, deflecting the ball with his left hand, kept Glinton from scoring.
There were several anxious moments for the Galaxy to close the match, but Los Angeles managed to hang on for the win and ease some pressure by putting an end to a five-game winless streak. It was the first of four consecutive home games for the Galaxy, who next play host to the Columbus Crew, while RSL return home to face D.C. United next Saturday.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
