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Galaxy Hang On to Beat Minnesota United 2-1

The Los Angeles Galaxy and Minnesota United have never met. But already it appears that a competition between the sides has begun after a highly-contested 2-1 Galaxy win in Minnesota on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides had their chances in the first half but a Giovani Dos Santos volley was the difference at the first intermission. Minnesota came out in the second half with a vengeance and got an equalizer from Christian Ramirez, but Ramirez scored an own goal that was the difference in the end.

The Galaxy lined up with Brian Rowe in goal as David Romney, Daniel Steres, Jelle van Damme and Ashley Cole made up the backline. Baggio Husidic earned the start in midfield with João Pedro while Giovani Dos Santos played in front of the holding duo.

LA’s attack was spearheaded by Gyasi Zardes with Romain Alessandrini and Emmanuel Boateng down the right and left flanks, respectively.

Early on, Husidic went down clutching his knee and had to be subbed out for Rafael Garcia. The injury appears to be serious and comes at a time when Jermaine Jones is out with a grade two MCL sprain.

LA had the first decent chance when the ball dropped to Boateng at the top of the box but his strike scuffed wide.

The Galaxy then went on the defensive with Rowe making a save then Boateng cleared a Minnesota chance off the goal-line with his head.

Minnesota earned an astonishing 12 corners throughout the game, having only 41 in the past 11 games.

Pedro had a thunderous strike from outside the box pushed away by Loons goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth

A breakthrough came, though, and just in time for halftime.

Dos Santos finished off a cross from Alessandrini with a nifty finish with the outside of his left foot to give the Galaxy a 1-0 halftime lead.

Cole made a goal-line slide to block a chance for Minnesota as the home side began to try force its way back into the game.

Protests were made after a ball may have come of Romney’s hand but it appeared to have come off the defender’s shoulder and the no-call was the correct decision.

Minnesota responded with a second ball in after a free kick was cleared. Christian Ramirez pounced and pushed it beyond Rowe to equalize.

It was the NASL two-time golden boot winner and Irvine, California-native’s seventh goal of the season.

The Galaxy brought on Raul Mendiola in the 76th minute, replacing Boateng in hopes of providing a fresh burst of speed on the wing to try get a winner.

With just more than 10 minutes to play, Alessandrini was booked after an apparent stomp on Mendiola caused a reaction from the Frenchman that prompted the referee to brandish a yellow card.

In the 84th, the Galaxy took the lead back after an Alessandrini free kick came off Ramirez and into the corner for an own goal to make it 2-1 LA.

The unfortunate deflection did not seem to completely faze the Loons, who had some attacks toward the end of the game but their efforts were not enough and the Galaxy held on to win the game.

The Galaxy takes on the Earthquakes on May 27 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose at 7 p.m. PT

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