On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Galaxy managed to do what no other MLS team has be able to accomplish this season: beat D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
The Galaxy broke a 1-1 draw at the half by scoring three times in the final 45 minutes. Landon Donovan scored twice for L.A., including once via penalty kick, while Alan Gordon and Chris Albright each added a goal. The Galaxy also benefitted from an own goal off D.C. United's Bryan Namoff in the 5-2 win.
D.C. also received an own goal, which tied the game in the first half. Facundo Erpen pulled United within a goal in the 69th minute, but it proved to be not enough against Los Angeles.
The victory pulls the Galaxy even with Real Salt Lake, who lost 6-0 to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, for fifth place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy have now taken four out of a possible six points in the season series from Black-and-Red thanks to Saturday's victory and a 1-1 tie in the first meeting in Los Angeles on June 11.
D.C. United head coach Peter Nowak was without two regulars in his starting lineup as midfielders Freddy Adu and Christian Gomez sat up with nagging injuries. Without them, the team looked a bit out of sorts against the defending MLS Cup champs.
L.A. Galaxy midfielder Santino Quaranta -- who made his MLS debut at the age of 16 for D.C. United in 2001 and was traded from D.C. to the L.A. on Aug. 8 -- almost instantly made a triumphant return to RFK in the 2nd minute when he collected a deft Donovan chip behind the United back line and smashed a left-footed blast off the left post.
The Galaxy's early pressure paid off right away in the 4th minute as Donovan again instigated the attack, threading a ball into open space in the box for Cobi Jones, whose shot was parried away by United goalkeeper Troy Perkins into the path of Gordon, who slid the ball into the empty net for his first career MLS goal and a 1-0 lead.
In an inauspicious start, United have not won this season (0-1-5) when conceding the first goal, while Los Angeles improved to 6-1-1 when tallying first.
L.A. could not sit back and relax against the league-leading United, though, as the Black-and-Red would keep up the pressure. L.A. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman made a nice diving save to his left to deny a low screamer from Alecko Eskandarian just a few minutes after the opening goal.
D.C. United would answer back only a few moments later. United forward Jamie Moreno dribbled past the Galaxy midfield in the 9th minute into the penalty box. Moreno's famous soft touch eluded him, though, and defender Troy Roberts' attempt to clear Moreno's stray touch to safety caromed off fellow defender Albright directly into the back of the net, promptly tying the game at 1 on an own goal.
Despite the setback, the Galaxy refused to sit back and continually set up good scoring chances on United's goal for the remainder of the half.
Jones nearly found a wide open Gordon with a long, sweeping cross from the right side, but Perkins just barely got his outstretched right hand on the ball to deny Gordon his second goal of the game.
Donovan, showing why he is still considered the standard bearer for U.S. Soccer, once again caused fits for the United defense as he left Bobby Boswell in his dust as he danced down the left flank and into the penalty area. Donovan's dangerous cross was met by Erpen, whose sliding tackle safely put the ball out for a Galaxy corner.
Just a few moments later, though, the Galaxy continued their onslaught at the United goal when Gordon sent Paulo Nagamura -- who had come on as an injury substitute in the 24th minute for Roberts who strained his groin -- clear at the top of the box, but Perkins did well to come out, close down the angle, and force Nagamura's shot wide left.
A beautiful sequence of passing from United in the 42nd minute resulted in another diving save from Hartman as he sprang to his left to deny United winger Jamil Walker's low shot.
Despite the myriad open chances, the Galaxy went into the half knotted with United 1-1, unlucky to have a more commanding lead.
Gomez, nursing a popliteus strain suffered last weekend in their tie against Colorado, was inserted after the half for Ben Olsen, as United looked to spark their attack. It was the Galaxy, however, who had the spark in the second half as they picked up their second goal in the 47th minute.
Landon Donovan's free kick from 20 yards out on the left side smashed into the United wall, bounced to Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas, who slid the ball off to Albright. The Galaxy defender -- and former D.C. United player -- slammed a shot towards goal from 18 yards out that took a deflection off an onrushing Namoff and into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.
Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu did a good job to preserve the lead in the 53rd minute when he was able to muscle himself in front of Alecko Eskandarian at the goalmouth, who had hoped to latch onto a Moreno cross from the left.
Quaranta, who had begun the game against his former teammates so brightly, departed in the 60th minute, but was warmly applauded by the United fans. Quavas Kirk came on for the midfielder and instantly made his mark with a dangerous cross from the right that was just barely nodded away in front of the goal by Namoff.
Donovan once again showed his vision a few minutes later. Instead of running at the defense for a two-on-two break at midfield, he slowed up and played a through ball for a wide open Kirk on the right. Kirk, alone with Perkins in the box, attempted to round the United 'keeper, but Perkins brought the 18-year-old down. Referee Mark Geiger immediately pointed to the spot, where Donovan converted for his sixth goal of the year and giving L.A. a 3-1 lead.
It was the first penalty kick of the year attempted for the Galaxy.
However, D.C. would not go down easily and struck back three minutes later. Gomez's curling right-footed free kick towards goal was just redirected enough by a leaping Erpen that Hartman was left frozen as the ball found the back corner of the net.
The Galaxy, however, were not finished. Kirk broke free down the right side of the field and placed a dangerous low cross to Donovan. The U.S. International's strike was initially blocked then put into the net by Namoff for an own goal and an improbable Galaxy 4-2 lead in the 71st minute.
Donovan promptly ran towards the previously raucous D.C. United supporter groups at midfield and taunted the fans by beating his chest and challenging them to keep cheering.
Despite the introduction of Adu in the 61st minute and numerous forays into the Galaxy box, United could not find an equalizer.
The Galaxy sealed the rout in extra time as Donovan raced past Erpen, latched onto a Herculez Gomez through ball, made Perkins fall to the ground with a fake shot, and calmly slotted the ball home for a commanding 5-2 win.
Jordan Brown is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
