Real Salt Lake saw their goalless streak reach record proportions, but still continued the difficulties for the Los Angeles Galaxy on the road, coming back to claim a 1-1 draw at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Galaxy took the lead through Naldo da Conceicao after 17 minutes, then once 35 minutes had passed and Real hadn't yet hit the back of the net, their streak became the longest in MLS history. But Jamie Watson scored after the break to end the streak and provide an eventual equalizer, keeping the Galaxy winless away from The Home Depot Center since last July.
The Galaxy have also gone winless thus far on the first three games on their four-game road trip, while Real Salt Lake saw their winless streak extended to six games, though they stopped a five-game losing run.
After having defeated the Galaxy in their last meeting in Salt Lake City, Real came out attacking in the early going, but once again gave up the early goal.
In the 17th minute RSL pushed forward on the attack, but got caught on the counter. Peter Vagenas stole the ball and launched a nice long ball that da Conceicao caught up with behind the Real defense, slotting the ball inside the near post for his first MLS goal.
The goal helped the Galaxy gain some steam and take control of the game -- until play neared the magic 35th minute.
Not wanting to steal the futility streak from D.C. United, RSL put together an offensive flurry. The best chance came in the 33rd minute when Seth Trembly slid the ball through to Andy Williams, and he won a foot race with Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman to get a shot off. But Hartman got his hands on the ball as it came off the Jamaican international's feet to make the save.
In the second half the tune finally changed for RSL, and in the 56th minute the scoreless streak ended when Real pulled level after Williams received the ball at the top of the 18-yard box.
Williams had a look at the net, but saw Watson streaking to the far post and laid the ball off. Watson then fired off a rocket that easily beat Hartman to score his first goal in MLS play and knot the game.
Both sides had their chances over the final half-hour. The Galaxy threatened to steal the win in the 76th minute when Dunivant played the ball across the goal mouth to da Conceicao, but he got his feet tangled and was unable to convert the golden opportunity.
Then it was Leslie Fitzpatrick who threatened to score the game-winner for the home side in the 87th minute, but Hartman made a brilliant save.
On the ensuing corner the ball bounced out to Williams who fired a shot off a Galaxy defender. From yet another corner the ball was served into a group of RSL players and Jason Kreis got his head on it -- but again Hartman was in place for the save.
Real then should have claimed the full three points and put an end to their five-game losing streak in stoppage time when substitute Jordan Cila got behind Hartman with Williams open at the far post. But Cila held the ball too long giving Hartman time to recover and the golden opportunity fizzled, leaving the two teams to share the points and see their respective winless streaks continue.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Andy Williams (Real Salt Lake)
David Hale is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Los Angeles Galaxy (7-4-3) vs. Real Salt Lake (3-8-3)
June 22, 2005 -- Rice-Eccles Stadium
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Ednaldo da Conceicao 1 (unassisted) 17
RSL -- Jamie Watson 1 (Andy Williams 1, Jason Kreis 1) 56
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Kevin Hartman, Ugo Ihemelu, Pablo Chinchilla, Michael Umana, Todd Dunivant, Mubarike Chisoni (Paulo Nagamura 51), Peter Vagenas, Herculez Gomez (Cobi Jones 54), Landon Donovan, Ednaldo da Conceicao, Jovan Kirovski.
Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Michael Enfield, Troy Roberts.
TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Herculez Gomez 2, Cobi Jones 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Ednaldo da Conceicao 1, Cobi Jones 1); FOULS: 13 (3 tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 5 (Ednaldo da Conceicao 4); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Jovan Kirovski 2); SAVES: 4 (Kevin Hartman 4)
Real Salt Lake -- D.J. Countess, Nelson Akwari, Cameron Knowles, Eddie Pope, Brian Kamler, Seth Trembly (Leslie Fitzpatrick 79), Kenny Cutler, Andy Williams, Chris Brown (Jordan Cila 73), Jamie Watson, Jason Kreis.
Substitutes Not Used: Matt Behncke, Nikolas Besagno, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Jay Nolly, Leighton O'Brien, Dipsy Selolwane, Dante Washington.
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Andy Williams 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Andy Williams 2); FOULS: 16 (Jamie Watson 3, Andy Williams 3); OFFSIDES: 6 (Jamie Watson 4); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Andy Williams 4); SAVES: 1 (D.J. Countess 1)
Misconduct Summary:
LA -- Ednaldo da Conceicao (caution; Dissent) 7
RSL -- Andy Williams (caution; Persistent Infringement) 23
LA -- Ugo Ihemelu (caution; Reckless Foul) 58
Referee: Lee Suckel
Referee's Assistants: Emiliano Monje; David Bragg
4th Official: Ricardo Valenzuela
Attendance: 15,112
Time of Game: 1:49
Weather: Showers-and-89-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
