LA breaks drought in draw with Colorado

Donovan's equalizer is first Galaxy goal at Dick's Sporting Goods Park

LA's Gregg Berhalter tries to corral Conor Casey during Saturday's game. (AP Photo)

Landon Donovan's goal in the 82nd minute helped LA escape with a 1-1 tie against the Colorado Rapids. It was the Galaxy's first goal in four games at the Rapids' home stadium since it opened in 2007.

The Galaxy (0-2-3) had several opportunities to score early in the contest but couldn't capitalize. Donovan, who leads the Galaxy in both goals (three) and assists (three) this season, had trouble finding space against Rapids defender Ugo Ihemelu and midfielder Pablo Mastroeni for most of the first half.

But in first-half stoppage time, Donovan sent a promising cross to Galaxy forward Alan Gordon. Gordon, with a straight-on view of the Rapids net, fired high to avoid a Rapids defender who was lying on the ground, and his shot went over the crossbar to end the first half. Los Angeles finished the first half with a 7-4 advantage in shots, but the match was still scoreless.

The second half started strong for Los Angeles, with a corner kick opportunity in the 47th minute. Donovan placed the set piece nicely for Gordon, but the forward's header came back off the crossbar. Another corner kick by Donovan seconds later resulted in a header over the goal by Gregg Berhalter.

Colorado's first good chance to break the scoreless tie in the second half came in the 55th, when Omar Cummings broke to the middle of the Galaxy penalty area and drilled a shot on goal from 12 yards. Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts deflected the shot outside the net, and Los Angeles quickly cleared away the ensuing Rapids corner kick.

Colorado didn't miss on its next chance, however. In the 60th minute, Cummings drifted a pass into Rapids midfielder Colin Clark, who was maneuvering inside the Galaxy penalty area. Clark took the ball and quickly changed direction to shake Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, clearing him for a shot into the high left corner of the Galaxy goal to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead.

But Donovan finally found some space late in the game. Following Edson Buddle's shot on goal in the 82nd minute, the ball deflected out to Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein, who quickly crossed it into Donovan. He drilled it solidly into the center of the Rapids goal with a first-time touch to tie the game at 1-1 and help L.A. avoid another loss. The Galaxy have not won in their last 12 visits to Colorado in the regular season.

The Galaxy return home next weekend still in search of their first victory in the 2009 season, when they take on the New York Red Bulls at The Home Depot Center.

Brad Byler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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