Two strong defensive efforts sandwiched around a disastrous five-minute span equaled a wretched outcome for Real Salt Lake.
The Los Angeles Galaxy scored two goals in the first five minutes of the second half and beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 at The Home Depot Center on Saturday night.
RSL had held the Galaxy scoreless in the first half but while the visitors envisioned a similar stretch of time in the second half, the Galaxy were rude hosts and scored a pair of insurmountable goals.
"In the first half, it was a battle in the midfield against a team that was trying to pressure us. We did well to withstand their pressure," RSL midfielder Douglas Sequeira said. "We tried to keep it going in the second half but they got two quick goals that we didn't anticipate. Nobody can anticipate goals like that."
Herculez Gomez drew first blood. In the 47th minute, Gomez took a throw-in from Landon Donovan and slipped past RSL defenders Eddie Pope and Nelson Akwari. From a tricky angle 12 yards out, Gomez nevertheless put the ball past RSL 'keeper Scott Garlick.
It was Garlick who handed the Galaxy the second goal. From the edge of the six-yard box, Garlick tried to clear the ball. Instead, his clearance attempt rolled harmlessly to Josh Gardner. The Galaxy midfielder collected the ball, took one step to his right and fired a ball into the back of the net from 20 yards out.
"From where I was standing, it was pretty ugly," RSL coach John Ellinger said. "That ball should have been kicked downfield. We took unnecessary risks in both those goals and it cost us."
The two quick goals destroyed Real Salt Lake's first-half defensive effort.
"Five minutes and we're down two goals," Sequeira said. "The Galaxy have experienced players who know how to handle a lead and that's what happened."
After the goals, RSL was faced with a tough mountain to climb. Second-half substitutes Andy Williams and Jeff Cunningham gave RSL some offensive spark but the game got away from RSL after the Galaxy's quick two goals.
"It was difficult afterward to get a goal but we need to do is to keep moving forward," Sequeira said. "When we take our lumps, we need to show that we have the capability of responding. Next week in Boston [against the Revolution] we need to show that."
Ellinger lamented the loss afterward but more than that he was upset in which the manner RSL handed the game to the Galaxy. Both goals were defensive breakdowns and the Galaxy capitalized.
"If we're just going to give goals away, this stuff is going to keep happening time after time after time and we're never going to get out of the cellar," he said.
RSL dipped deeper in the Western Conference basement. Real Salt Lake is now 3-9-4 and is eight points behind fourth-place Chivas USA in the hunt for a playoff spot. The loss further hammered the point.
"There's accountability. It starts on the top and that's me, so no problem. But it also goes down so you have to be accountable," Ellinger said. "The players win and I take every loss."
Real have now been shut out in three of their last four games. Ellinger was asked how the club's offense can improve.
"We've got to make the goals bigger (and) the crossbars thinner," Ellinger said.
Sequeira offered a different approach. The Costa Rican World Cup veteran said the club needs a spirited effort from its veterans.
"This team has experienced players like Eddie Pope, Jason Kreis, Carey Talley, myself and (Jeff) Cunningham. We know how to play in this league. This league is very competitive and we cannot afford to leave any more points behind," he said. "We just need a win to get back our confidence. We hope to go into Boston and get a result and return home confident to face Dallas."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
