setting a theme for the half for the Galaxy.
For the rest of the half, Donovan became the provider for most of the Galaxy's forays into the final third. Three good chances were the direct result of clever passing from Donovan to Cobi Jones, Pablo Chinchilla and Pando Ramirez.
The best chance of the half for Los Angeles came from the Chinchilla opportunity. The Costa Rican defender worked a tricky one-two with Donovan, breaking loose in the box. In alone on Countess with defenders bearing down on him, Chinchilla showed his defender's touch and shot the ball right at Countess.
The most dangerous attempt sent in Kevin Hartman's direction came from the foot of his own defender. Pressured by Real forward Dante Washington, Tyrone Marshall played a difficult ball back to his 'keeper. But while the pass back was more of a driven ball on net, Hartman calmly chested down the ball and cleared the danger.
Countess was much more busy in the first half to keep his clean sheet intact, making five saves and watching five more shots sail either high or wide of his net. Countess also managed to cut out several Galaxy crosses from the wings, snuffing out more than one potential scoring opportunity.
After Washington mustered up a weak effort from 20 yards out to register Real's first official shot, the Galaxy were finally able to break the deadlock, looking like they did a month ago before the internationals left the team.
Jones held off a defender on the right and hit a high ball over the Real back four that Donovan was able to track down after slipping in behind the last defender. Donovan dribbled into the box, then sent a low shot past an onrushing Countess to give the home side the lead and the home fans something to cheer about.
The chances started coming in rapid succession for Donovan, as he had two more golden opportunities came just minutes after his goal, yet wasn't able to hit home. The Galaxy broke free with Kirovski on the right and all he had to do was connect with Donovan steaming up the center, but his pass was just too far, much to the goal-scorer's annoyance.
Kirovski then nearly doubled the lead at the hour mark, hitting a volley just inches over the bar from inside the area. The wasted chance nearly came back to bite the Galaxy shortly thereafter, and if not for the woodwork and a well-positioned left back, the score would have been leveled.
Dante Washington had Hartman clearly beaten with a header, but the ball looped up and hit the top of the crossbar before falling back into the field of play. The RSL attacker was able to beat Hartman to the rebound and again send it goalward, but at the last possible instant, Todd Dunivant cleared the ball off of the line, preserving the Galaxy lead.
While the near miss jump-started the Salt Lake attack, they didn't greatly trouble Hartman the rest of the way and he was credited with his 100th victory in MLS, the first goalkeeper to reach that milestone.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Landon Donovan (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.
Real Salt Lake (3-7-2) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (7-2-2)
June 11, 2005 -- The Home Depot Center
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Landon Donovan 6 (Cobi Jones 3) 52
Real Salt Lake -- D.J. Countess, Nelson Akwari, Matt Behncke, Brian Dunseth, Brian Kamler, Andy Williams, Kenny Cutler, Jason Kreis, Chris Brown (Seth Trembly 72), Clint Mathis (Jamie Watson 61), Dante Washington.
Substitutes Not Used: Nikolas Besagno, Jay Nolly, Leighton O'Brien.
TOTAL SHOTS: 5 (Dante Washington 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Dante Washington 1); FOULS: 13 (3 tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 9 (4 tied with 2); CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 6 (D.J. Countess 6)
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Kevin Hartman, Ugo Ihemelu, Pablo Chinchilla, Tyrone Marshall, Todd Dunivant, Cobi Jones, Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Guillermo Ramirez, Landon Donovan, Jovan Kirovski (Ednaldo da Conceicao 78).
Substitutes Not Used: Mubarike Chisoni, Michael Enfield, Josh Gardner, Herculez Gomez, Guillermo Gonzalez, Troy Roberts, Josh Saunders, Michael Umana.
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Jovan Kirovski 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Jovan Kirovski 2, Guillermo Ramirez 2); FOULS: 10 (Ugo Ihemelu 6); OFFSIDES: 4 (Landon Donovan 3); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Landon Donovan 7); SAVES: 1
Misconduct Summary:
RSL -- Nelson Akwari (caution; Pushing, Holding) 20
RSL -- Clint Mathis (caution; Dissent) 59
RSL -- Seth Trembly (caution; Reckless Foul) 75
LA -- Ugo Ihemelu (caution; Professional Foul) 80
Referee: Marcel Yonan
Referee's Assistants: Richard Eddy; Steven Davidson
4th Official: Ian Anderson
Attendance: 23,544
Time of Game: 1:49
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-71-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
