Galaxy get point, but remain winless
Los Angeles laments missed opportunities in draw with Rapids
Related
- Highlights: LA 1, COL 1
400K|800K
- LA breaks drought in draw with Colorado
- MLSGear.com
The Galaxy are still winless on the season, but Landon Donovan's goal in the 82nd minute stopped L.A.'s scoring drought at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, and helped the Galaxy pick up a valuable point in a tough road venue.
"I think overall we're pretty happy," said Donovan, whose goal in the 82nd minute ended a three-game goalless streak for the Galaxy at Colorado's home stadium. "We had quite a few good chances just missed and probably could have scored a few more goals."
The Galaxy could have come away with their first victory of the season if they had converted on several strong opportunities earlier in the game. The most notable chance came early in the second half, when Donovan's corner kick was headed off Colorado's crossbar by forward Alan Gordon while the game was still scoreless.
"You always want those to go in, but that's part of the game," Gordon said. "If I keep at it they will go in. I won't put any added pressure on myself. I think I'm in the right spots and Landon and I are working well together. As long as we are successful as a team that's all that matters."
After Colorado scored its goal in the 60th minute, the Galaxy seemed to push its attack. L.A. finally scored when Edson Buddle's shot was deflected by Colorado goalkeeper Preston Burpo out to Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein. Klein crossed it over to Donovan, who drilled it past Burpo into the Colorado net.
"After (Colorado) got their goal its natural for a team to sit back and play it defensive," Gordon said. "The team that is down has to push it, so we were pushing it a little bit and we were fighting back and I knew an opportunity would come."
Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena said the Galaxy also have the referees to thank for making a non-call in the 74th minute. Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant appeared to tangle with Colorado's Omar Cummings just outside the Galaxy penalty area, resulting in a whistle.
Referee Alex Prus pulled out a red card for Dunivant, and initially it appeared that a penalty kick would be awarded to Colorado with the Rapids already leading 1-0. But the referees huddled and Prus decided Dunivant did not make contact. Cummings had leaped to avoid him and fallen hard on the play. No red card, no penalty kick.
"That doesn't happen too often in this league," Arena said. "I would have to praise the referee for the ability to get a wrong right. It wasn't a foul and it wasn't a red card. At the end of the day you have to feel good about that when we often are so critical of the officiating.
"Maybe we don't have a chance to get the point and we lose the player for a game. That's big of the referee to get it right."
Los Angeles (0-1-4) and Columbus (0-2-4) are the only teams yet to win a game in 2009, but by collecting points in two consecutive road games, the Galaxy feel like they are moving in a positive direction.
"There's two ways to look at it," said Donovan, who leads the Galaxy in goals (three) and assists (three). "One is we haven't won a game yet, and the second is we're one of only a couple teams that have only lost once. We still feel good about where we are going but we have to start winning games, especially at home."
Brad Byler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
