Lost amid the hype surrounding the U.S. national team's send-off victory against Turkey, and the fun of a Memorial Day weekend, was the fact that the Los Angeles Galaxy won the battle of unbeatens last Saturday.
The Galaxy disposed of the Columbus Crew, beating the East Leaders, 2-0, at Crew Stadium on Saturday night. Playing without World Cup-bound stars Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, the Galaxy rode its stingy defense to its ninth shutout and ninth win of the season.
Los Angeles fans were also treated to a glimpse of the future as academy product Tristan Bowen assisted on a goal and sealed the victory with his first MLS goal as the Galaxy increased its lead in the race for the Supporters Shield.
In case you missed them, here are the highlights of the match:
What did you think of the match? Impressed with Bowen? Think the Galaxy will lose any ground while Buddle and Donovan are away? Wondering if the Crew has the attack to win an MLS Cup title?
Share your thoughts below.
Don’t forget that there was some help from the woodwork too. At least 2 as I recall, one right in front of me in the first half.
The Invincibles
…..Have done onto yourself as you have done onto others.
Well said Matty Light. Two weeks ago when the Crew beat NYRB, the article, and every comment were about how lucky the Crew were. This time, it is about how dominant the Galaxy’s defense was. Obviously, these people didn’t watch the game. This game was about one thing- finishing. The Crew failed to do so, and the Galaxy did. Bowen is a beast. The Galaxy played a great strategic game and won. As I said after the NYRB game… winners win. And the Galaxy did just that. I have no complaints about the outcome.
Well, just one. I need to stop inviting my freind Gigi to come to the the games. We have lost three home games in 2+ years and he has been at all three.
Chris F’n Klein
I feel like Ives always likes to slight the Columbus Crew- no matter how trivial the piece of news may be. LA won and congrats, but the Crew dominated every statistical category EXCEPT the one that matters. If the Crew got outshot 21-4 and beat LA 2-0, this would read “Crew lucky to survive against Dominatiny Galaxy”
Yep, definitely had an uncomfortable peppered feeling.
This is our karmic payback for the RBNY game 2 weeks ago…
As a Galaxy supporter, I hope we lose one of the next two. The pressures of staying undefeated will start to mount, and by mid season it’ll be too much of a distraction.
On a side note, Bowen is taking leaps and bounds every game. The kid has the patience of a true vet, great ball control, can hold the play up or blow by a back, and can finish. Loving what’s coming up through the ranks of the club.
The club is running as a proper club should, good veteran talent, young energetic players, and a youth system that is actually bringing something to the table.
Everytime there’s a corner kick there’s a good chance a goal may be scored. 17 corners??? 23 shots but only 4 on goal. To me, watching the, feeling the anxiety of the crew pressure, knowing that it only takes a split second or a bad hop and it’s 2-1 or 2-2. I stand by my assessment and the use of the word “peppered”. I liken it to the batter with two strikes hitting 12 foul balls in an at bat…. That’s still 12 times the ball was almost put in play. 12 times that a slight margin of difference becomes a hit. Statistics don’t always tell the story…
Yeah, Beckham was great in the MLS CUp final last year against the mighty RSL. He guaranteed them a loss.
Not only were the Galaxy without Buddle,Beckham and Donovan. They were without the injured Gordon and Kovakenko and also Junhihno, who went back to Brazil for a death in the family. Columbus, while not at full strength (missing Heyduk and Caroll), had most of their important players playing! Both Galaxy scorers were under 21 (OK, Stephens had celebrated 21st b-day a week before), and of course the win was on the road.
Pretty scary stuff, if you are the other MLS teams. I think as long as the back line stays reasonably healthy, The Galaxy will be hard to beat. I’m looking forward to Inter.
I do not believe Donovan or even Buddle (should he do well) will go before the end of the season, unless the Galaxy get offered an astronomical sum (>20m) for Donovan. The Galaxy Plan is to buy another “star” designated player to replace Donovan. And as this is LA and you would need to add a “name” and not just a great player, the names of Riquelm, Ronaldhino and Raul have all been bandied about.
The Galaxy have Real Salt Lake and Houston to play before the WC break, so they will face two more “big” tests without their stars. Should they then still remain undefeated, the season could be spectacular for the Galaxy.
Matthew N, did you watch the game? That was by far the most offensive the Crew have played all season. Hell the guy pulled a defender and went flat three in the back for about 20 minutes. How much more offensive can you get?
Sorry, Dan, gonna have to disagree. The Crew did not pepper the net. With only 4 shots on goal out of 23, it seems to be that Columbus wasted an awful lot of time taking ill-advised shots.
From one LA fan to another, the problem with that statement is that 2 of those 3 are quite possibly not coming back to finish the season.
Donovan will start the season with an EPL side, and Beckham…well, who knows about him.
We are going undefeated this season
While Landon Donovan has been the face of that franchise, the other ” Donovan ” Ricketts, has quietly been the unspoken MVP of LA for the past two seasons.
Ricketts is a beast between the posts and arguably MLS’ best GK now.
Sidenote: I’ve been hearing Ives praise Michael Stephens quite often and I see why. The kid looked really impressive.
Maybe someday Warzycha will stop playing so defensively. If if only the Crew would open up a bit..
Crew dominated the game….Gals dominated the scoring. Gotta finish chances no matter how many you get.
4 shots on goal is hardly peppering Rickett’s net.
Wanna trade? 16 weeks a year off with pay! 🙂
The scoring will be what is talked about, but LA’s defense is crushing MLS right now.
Even if they hadn’t scored a single goal this season they would have 8 points out of 10 games with a goal differential of only -2.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that the Crew didn’t finish on anything, and perhaps their chances were none to great, but the way Columbus dominated the offensive portion of the game proves that L.A. did little to ‘dispose’ of the Fighting Canaries.
I loved beating the Crew Saturday but they earned my respect with how they dominated the middle 2/3rds of the game. They peppered Rickett’s net with solid chances… My boys were fortunate to escape with a W let alone a shutout.
Keep up the good work… From my classroom….
(SBI-Thanks Dan, long days, long weeks, only going to get longer.)
***I meant when all three are back and playing.
I notice they never mention how David Beckham is also missing due to his injury. It is always how Landon and Edson are gone, let’s not forget how David Beckham will almost guarantee our team a championship this year.
Bowen looks good. Fast and good first touch. Might even be future national team quality 😉