The Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire are still looking for their first victories of the 2006 campaign after the two clubs played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
The two sides went scoreless late into the match until Chris Albright put the Galaxy ahead from a corner kick just minutes after he had hit the crossbar from one, but Jim Curtin leveled the score four minutes from the end to leave the teams with a share of the points.
Both teams had their chances to break through in the opening 45 minutes. Chicago's Chris Rolfe had the first scoring threat on the night, after Justin Mapp got around Galaxy fullback Todd Dunivant on the right side before sending in a cross from the end line. The initial effort was blocked but rebounded straight to Rolfe who shot first time from inside the box, but the Galaxy's Ugo Ihemelu blocked that.
Minutes later Rolfe was at it again. Chicago defender Gonzalo Segares whipped in a cross from the right side, and though Tyrone Marshall was the first to the ball for the Galaxy, Rolfe quickly stripped the ball from his foot, turned and rifled a low shot on frame. Hartman did well to make the first save of the night.
The Galaxy made their first honest effort at goal in the 15th minute. Landon Donovan earned the Galaxy a free kick from about 30 yards out, then laid the ball off for Herculez Gomez. Gomez hit a low screamer through the defensive traffic in front of the net towards the near post, and only a sprawling save from Zach Thornton kept the scoresheet blank.
Donovan showed his quality two minutes later working himself free in the Fire penalty area. Curtin deflected an initial cross by Albright high into the air, and with a brilliant first touch Donovan brought the ball down and turned all in one motion before racing to the end line. But his cross never made it to the middle as the Fire defense recovered quickly and deflected the ball away from danger.
Rolfe continued to be the only player in a Fire uniform to make any sort of credible threat to the Galaxy goal. In the 27th minute, Rolfe took his third shot of the half, this time from long range. But it was directed right into the chest of Hartman, who made the easy save.
The opening minutes of the second half began with both teams still on the attack. Two minutes into the half, Chad Barrett won a corner, and the ensuing kick made its way to the top corner of the area where Ivan Guerrero was lurking. Guerrero cut towards the middle and got off a lazy shot that trickled wide of the near post.
In the 50th minute, Thiago found the ball at his feet inside the Los Angeles penalty area, but his deflected shot barely sailed over the crossbar. An instant later Thiago forced Hartman into a save, blasting a shot from the top of the 18 which Hartman dove to stop.
With neither side able to exert their control on the match, both Steve Sampson and Dave Sarachan went to their benches, bringing on Ned Grabavoy and Nate Jaqua respectively.
In the 62nd minute the Galaxy came within inches of opening the scoring. Albright rose up above his defender to win a corner kick and his header clearly beat Thornton, but clanged off the crossbar. The ball rebounded to Tyrone Marshall, but the big central defender couldn't put his shot on target.
In the 75th minute Grabavoy squirted free from about 20 yards out. However he was dribbling away from his preferred foot and could only muster a weak left footed shot that barely troubled Thornton.
Albright was at it again from a corner in the 78th minute. Gardner, who took all of the Galaxy corners from the left side, sent a cross into the middle. From almost the exact same spot as his previous header, Albright won the ball, but this time his aim was a bit truer, and it missed the crossbar, this time sailing to the back of the net.
The goal ignited the Galaxy, and moments later Grabavoy picked out a streaking Donovan with a long ball over the top of the Chicago defense. Donovan outpaced the defense to the ball and slid in front of Thornton to poke a shot towards goal, but his shot rolled just wide of the back post.
Yet the lead was short lived. In the 86th minute the Fire won a free kick deep on the right flank. Thiago took the kick from a similar position as the New England free kick that resulted in Clint Dempsey's goal last week against the Galaxy. This time it was 6-foot-4 Curtin who won a header and directed the ball into the side netting, leaving the teams level and both teams still without a victory this season.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
