The Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo meandered to a scoreless draw Saturday at The Home Depot Center, as the pace of the first half and the addition of U.S. World Cup players to both teams eventually took the legs out from under each side.
The result keeps the Galaxy winless in home games for the season. The Galaxy also haven't won since April 29, now a stretch of 10 games, and remain stuck in the cellar of the Western Conference standings.
After being a part of the U.S. team during the World Cup, the Galaxy's Chris Albright and Dynamo's Brian Ching were inserted into the starting lineup for their teams. Landon Donovan was not included in the Galaxy's available roster.
The first real threat on goal fell to Houston in the 17th minute. Wade Barrett made a penetrating run down the left side and put in an early cross that found its way to the feet of Alejandro Moreno, but the former Galaxy forward's shot was lifted well over the crossbar.
The Galaxy started to get the upper hand at that point. But the final touch was lacking, the only real quality chance coming in the 21st minute when they won a free kick. Nathan Sturgis chipped the ball into the penalty area and John Wolyniec rose up to win the high ball, but Pat Onstad easily saved his glancing header.
Ching forced the best save of the half from Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman. Ricardo Clark played a ball into the Galaxy area and Ching latched onto the ball and sent a driven shot to the near post, but Hartman made a great reaction to dive to his left and punch away a sure goal.
Chances kept coming for both sides and the Galaxy faithful rose to their feet in the 25th minute when Paulo Nagamura sent Wolyniec in behind the Houston back line. He dribbled in and fired from just inside the area, but his shot was directed straight into the stomach of Onstad.
Houston had a pair of good chances late in the half. In the 40th minute Ching chested down a ball in the Galaxy penalty area and laid the ball off for Moreno who shot from the edge of the area, but he just missed wide of the post.
Just prior to the halftime whistle, Ugo Ihemelu foolishly tried to bring the ball down in his own penalty area to near disastrous results. Barrett immediately put the second-year defender under pressure and dispossessed him, then passed the ball to Ching. The U.S. international spun around in the box and shot, but missed the target high and wide.
After the break, scoring chances were again slow in coming. Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop put on Cobi Jones for Quavas Kirk to try and inject some life into the attack, and Albright was taken off at the same time -- but the move wasn't tactical. It was for maternity reasons, as Albright's wife went into labor with their first child during the second half.
It wasn't until the 71st minute that the half's first legitimate chance on goal came. A failed bicycle kick attempt by Clark spun awkwardly to Dwayne De Rosario, but his feeble attempt at goal sailed well wide.
The Galaxy's first real threat in the second half didn't come until the 83rd minute. Gardner sent a corner kick into the box and Tyrone Marshall won the header, but was nowhere near the target.
While the Galaxy were shutout for the eighth time in 15 games this season, the bright side for the defending MLS Cup champion is that they recorded their first clean sheet of the season.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
