May 30, 2009 5TH STRAIGHT DRAW LA Galaxy rally to 1-1 finish with KC Wizards
Amy Walz, LASoccerNews.com Editor
Edson Buddle scored for LA in the 87th minute to tie the match 1-1. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
CARSON, Calif. - The Galaxy once again cleaned house in the final 15 minutes to land a 1-1 tie with Kansas City, despite playing a man down after LA defender Gregg Berhalter was ejected from the match in the 59th minute.
Kansas City's Davy Arnaud scored in the 84th minute, assisted by Hercules Gomez and Roger Espinoza. Just three minutes later, lone striker Edson Buddle evened the match from 12 yards out after receiving a through ball from Landon Donovan.
The tie makes for the Galaxy's fifth straight draw. "I'm pretty pleased with the team...there's not enough in the win column, but it sure as hell beats losing," said LA Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena. When asked for specific criticisms of the teams play Arena noted poor finishing in the past two matches, as well as the missed opportunity to "walk away with three points... we created some good opportunities that we didn't convert."
Both teams were either robbed or lucky in the first half. While LA had 6 shots, Kansas City waited until the 46th minute for their first attempt. A Kevin Souter cross dropped at Arnaud's feet inside the six yard box but was banked off goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts chest for a crowd-pleasing point-blank save.
LA's best attempt on goal in the first forty-five came in the 39th minute when Eddie Lewis hit a well placed cross into the box from the left flank. Alan Gordon made a darting run under pressure into the near post and deflected the ball which hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. Halftime found both teams scoreless.
In the 55th minute Dema Kovalenko, who played the match in right midfield (just east of his usual central position) played a low ball across the 6 yard box and Gordon conjured up his second near miss.
The match was still 0-0 when Berhalter was ejected 4 minutes later after giving a slight tug on Claudio Lopez's jersey as he dribbled just outside the penalty box, with Berhalter taking a red card rather than a likely goal against. KC was rewarded a freekick which was deflected off the wall and out.
"I kinda gave him a quick grab. It was nothing. I made the decision. That's how it goes... I was surprised that it was a red. I thought it would be a yellow," said Berhalter. "To me its not a red card," said Arena.
Going a man down, the Galaxy adjusted to a 4-4-1 leaving Gordon the lone attacker up top until he was replaced by Buddle. In the 78th minute Chris Klein was brought in for Eddie Lewis. Klein made his presence known and launched in left-footed lazer on goal, forcing Hartman to make a diving save to his right.
KC finished what they thought was the game-winner in the 84th minute when Espinoza found himself at the touchline but pulled off a cross into dangerous space at the top of the six. Gomez got a touch on the ball, but it was Arnaud who deflected the ball cleanly into the net.
In the 87th minute Buddle received a perfect through ball from Donovan at the top of the 18 which he finished with a curving near post shot beating goalkeeper Hartman at the near-post. "Our guys stayed compact... I gotta give them credit," said Buddle, referring to the team's patience to wait for the counter attack which allowed him to score.
"I'm disappointed... I don't think we created enough chances," said KC coach Curt Onalfo.
LA is now 1-1-9 with 12 points and KC is 4-4-4 with 16 points. The Galaxy play their next match on the road against Toronto FC on June 6th.
