CARSON, Calif. – Edson Buddle proved he’s more than just a scoring machine, but then went out and showed his striking engine is still firing on all cylinders.
Buddle set up the LA Galaxy’s opener—the first LA goal scored by someone other than him this season—then stroked home two more before the intermission as the Galaxy cruised past a struggling Philadelphia Union side, 3-1, at Home Depot Center on Saturday.
With his latest two-goal effort, Buddle now has scored nine goals on the season and is clamoring for a spot on the U.S. national team. But what made the night different than the other three multi-goal efforts he’s had this season alone was his ability to find a teammate in front of the goal. Just 53 seconds in, Buddle slipped a ball from the left side of the box to the far post, and A.J. DeLaGarza raced in and buried the ball past a helpless Chris Seitz.
The second-year right back’s goal will silence whatever criticism the Galaxy faced from having only one player doing all the damage. But with that out of the way, Buddle got right back to scoring again. In the 27th minute, Alan Gordon’s header nearly beat Seitz, but the young Union ’keeper did well to make the save. Buddle, however, was there to get the ball. He first tried a backheel, which rebounded off a pile and fell back to his feet. He then calmly sent the ball through a mess of defenders and into the corner.
Landon Donovan got into the act just before halftime, helping Buddle double his tally for the night. Donovan took a pass from Michael Stephens, raced down the right side and fed Buddle, who drove his straightaway shot past Seitz.
With the half coming to a close, Philadelphia midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi helped out his former teammates by sliding in late from behind and flattening Juninho. For his efforts, “Migzi” received a red card.
The Galaxy did not do much with their man advantage, though. And in fact, as the game wore on, the 10-man Union did their best to make things interesting, particularly when the pulled a goal back in the 84th minute through 17-year-old striker Jack McInerney.
A giveaway near the centerline fell to Fred, who raced toward the Galaxy’s penalty area and fed McInerney. The rookie settled the ball and fired it into the back of the net for the first goal of his young professional career. The finishing was clinical and hints at more to come from the youngster.
The goal was also the first conceded by the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center since losing to FC Dallas, 6-3, on September 12, a streak that spanned 628 regular-season minutes.
By then, however, the match was well in hand.
The Galaxy are now 5-0-1 and five points clear at the top of the Western Conference. The Union remain in 7th place in the East, with just three points from five games.
Scoring:
LA -- A.J. DeLaGarza 1 (Edson Buddle 1, Michael Stephens 1) 1
LA -- Edson Buddle 8 (unassisted) 27
LA -- Edson Buddle 9 (Landon Donovan 5, Michael Stephens 2) 45
PHI -- Jack McInerney 1 (Fred 1) 84
Lineups:
Philadelphia Union -- Chris Seitz, Cristian Arrieta, Danny Califf, Michael Orozco, Jordan Harvey (Amobi Okugo 74), Andrew Jacobson (Kyle Nakazawa 61), Shea Salinas, Stefani Miglioranzi, Roger Torres (Jack McInerney 56), Fred, Alejandro Moreno.
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Donovan Ricketts, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant, Michael Stephens, Chris Birchall, Juninho (Alex Cazumba 62), Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle (Tristan Bowen 75), Alan Gordon (Clint Mathis 70).
Discipline:
PHI -- Stefani Miglioranzi (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 47+
PHI -- Kyle Nakazawa (caution; Reckless Tackle) 73
LA -- Omar Gonzalez (caution; Reckless Tackle) 77
Referee: Yader Reyes
Referee's Assistants: Chris Strickland; Eric Boria
4th Official: Jair Marrufo
Attendance: 15,453
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Clear-and-67-degrees
