Galaxy content with draw in Houston
Club uses rowdy match at Robertson Stadium as postseason warmup
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- Highlights: LAG 0, HOU 0
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- Ricketts save reel
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- Galaxy, Dynamo battle to scoreless draw
- Quotes: HOU 0, LA 0
Add in the sixth largest crowd to watch a Houston Dynamo home game, and the match felt even more like a playoff game than the second-to-last regular season game of the year.
In the end, both teams fought -- somewhat literally -- but the Galaxy were pleased to get a point and remain in a three-way tie for first in the Western Conference.
"It was a tough game. Houston is a real difficult team to play, when they are at home, with the tight field, their physicality, their quality on set pieces, it wasn't easy," Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena said. "It was a battle for 90 minutes. I liked the mentality of our group and the concentration we showed tonight. Again, it's a good team in a game that meant something to both teams. I think we have to be pleased with at least leaving with a point."
Both teams had their chances, with LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts being called into duty several times, making four saves. Ricketts made a diving save on a shot by Luis Angel Landin in the first half, and made kick saves on Stuart Holden twice -- the second in the 77th minute on a point-blank shot by Holden from two yards out.
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Even though this was the next-to-last game of the regular season, don't tell that to Los Angeles, which appeared in playoff mode.
"This was a like a dress rehearsal for the playoffs, this is the same type of atmosphere you would get," Ricketts said. "Houston, they're a tough, physical team and playing the way we did, we were good enough to get a point."
Los Angeles had its chances, too, with Chris Birchall making Pat Onstad dive for a save in the ninth minute off a shot from 30 yards out on the right, and Eddie Lewis missing the rebound on the left side.
The Galaxy's best chance to break the scoreless draw came in the 52nd minute on an Edson Buddle shot that blooped over Onstad, who got a hand on it. The ball nearly crossed the goal line, but Houston's Geoff Cameron bicycle-kicked it out of the goal and kept the game tied.
The game, however, was not without its controversy. David Beckham earned a yellow card in the 82nd minute for tripping up Ricardo Clark. Houston's Brian Ching came in and appeared to push one of the Los Angeles players in the face, earning Ching a red card.
"It had nothing to do with me. He pushed someone in the face, but it wasn't me that he pushed, but you can't do that in the game," said Beckham, who was making his first trip to Houston. "Like I said, it had nothing to do with me, I wasn't involved (in the incident)."
Even up a man for the final six minutes, LA couldn't cash in and walked out of Houston with a point and still in a tie for first place. The Galaxy were pleased to get the point and remain atop the Western Conference, and if nothing else, the game served as a warmup for the playoffs to come.
"It was a great turnout, it was the first time I've played here, the first time I've been here. You could feel it was a great atmosphere, an atmosphere of people that are proud about their team," Beckham said. "It was a nice atmosphere to play in."
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
