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Galaxy frustrated in 1-1 draw with Rapids

LA Galaxy

The Los Angeles Galaxy were held to a 1-1 draw at the StubHub Center by Western Conference rival Colorado Rapids, but the Galaxy should have come away with more than just one point. 

LA lined up without captain Robbie Keane, who has an orbital fracture from a collision with New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles on Aug. 7. Captaining the Galaxy was Steven Gerrard, who started in the midfield alongside Nigel de Jong. In place of Keane up top was Gyasi Zardes with Giovani Dos Santos in the No.10 role, which brought Emmanuel Boateng and Sebastian Lletget off the bench to start on the left and right-wing respectively.

 

Gyasi Zardes had the first decent chance of the night after getting slipped behind the Rapids defense by Gerrard, but the American saw his shot denied by his compatriot Tim Howard.

 

The Galaxy came agonizingly close on a Gerrard free kick that found Jelle van Damme’s head, but the Belgian’s attempt rattled the post and the subsequent rebound bounced off of Lletget and out for a goal kick.

 

The Galaxy lined up with its usual defense, which proved to be important with several interventions throughout the first half from Van Damme and Ashley Cole. Cole also provided a useful attacking instinct down the left flank, giving LA more numbers in the box.

LA found itself in many shooting situations, specifically one attempt from Dos Santos denied by Howard and the rebound blasted over the bar from Lletget. Just before the half, Dos Santos surged through the midfield but the Mexican’s shot was saved by the fingertips of Howard. The absence of Keane was heavily felt in the final third for the Galaxy.

At halftime, the Galaxy and Rapids were still deadlocked at zero, but the home side dominated possession and the bulk of the attacks. LA needed to be more clinical in front of goal in the second half if the team would earn all three points.

The second half did not start out well for LA. Colorado earned possession in the Galaxy’s half as the ball found its way over to Gashi, who nailed home a strike from outside LA’s box. It was a wonderful strike from Gashi, and there was not much that Brian Rowe could do to stop it.

Howard continued to come up big for the Rapids, making multiple saves, but LA broke through in the 62nd minute on a Gerrard corner. The cross came to the front post for Daniel Steres, who headed it towards the back post where Dos Santos was waiting to tap it in. After originally believing Dos Santos got a touch on it, the goal was awarded to Steres with the assist to Gerrard for the Englishman’s 11th of this MLS season. In the post-match interview, Dos Santos said he touched the ball on the way into the net.

LA did not slow down. AJ DeLaGarza danced his way through the box but his left-footed shot from the penalty spot flew over the crossbar. The Galaxy were playing with an urgent pace as they moved the ball with vigor and precision, especially pinpoint passing from Gerrard.  

With around 10 minutes let in regular time, Rowe was collided into by Kevin Doyle and Nigel De Jong, with De Jong providing more damage to his own keeper than his opposition. There appeared to be blood and Rowe was substituted to receive proper treatment with Dan Kennedy entering as his replacement.

 

At the end of the 90 minutes, the fourth official added eight extra minutes for stoppage time. This was the last chance for either side to grab a goal, but the stadium’s energy was sucked out of it following Rowe’s horrific injury.

The Galaxy kept the ball in the Rapids’ half for the majority of stoppage time, but Howard was able to keep out whatever efforts LA got through on goal. The match finished 1-1 and the Galaxy certainly felt points were dropped.

LA head across country to the Big Apple to take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday Aug. 20.

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