Photo By ISIPhotos.com
By ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, Calif — It wasn't always pretty, but the Los Angeles Galaxy continued its winning ways on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
Landon Donovan scored his league-leading eighth goal of the season on a penalty kick as the Galaxy picked up its third straight victory. Throughout the match, the Galaxy was able to suffocate the Houston attack, limiting the Dynamo to a single shot on goal. In what was both club's second match in a three-game week, fatigue was a major factor as the action suffered throughout much of the game.
"It was a difficult game as Houston played hard for 90 minutes, our team overall played well, but could have a little cleaner in trying to get another goal," said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. "Overall we had a good night, but you could see that both clubs were fatigued from playing on the weekend."
The Galaxy controlled a majority of the possession before taking the lead just moments before halftime. An errant shot by Chris Birchall bounced off the outstretched arm of Lovel Palmer, which led referee Chris Penso to call a penalty. The Galaxy captain cooly stepped up to the spot and scored his eighth goal in seven matches.
With the lead, the Galaxy reverted to a defensive posture as the club has done repeatedly when taking a lead in matches. While Houston was provided with possession, the Dynamo struggled to create opportunties as the Galaxy were able force Houston into making many costly turnovers. Central to this game plan was limiting Brad Davis' effectiveness on the flanks as the league leader in assists was unable to aid in the attack before eventually being subbed off.
"We were getting there, but we were being a little rash with our passing," said Kinnear after the match. "You have to be patient, especially when you get forward and when you get to the point, too many guys were moving to the ball and sometimes away from the ball. We were still finding areas to get forward, but we got to a point where we got really cheap and gave it away"
The Galaxy will now look travel to New England to face the Revolution while the Houston Dynamo will return to Texas to take on inter-state rival, FC Dallas. The short turnaround for both clubs will be difficult as they must embark on long fights and play once more on short rest.
In the match against New England, the Galaxy are intending to make one change as Juan Pablo Angel will not travel with the team to Massachusetts. Despite the challenge, the Galaxy are confident of their ability to perform.
"We knew that this was going to be a challenging week," said Donovan. "The key now is to take care of our bodies, but the thing about this team is that we could make ten changes for Saturday and we'd still feel good about our chances."
Anyone know which player has the most goals from the run of play?
Oh but penalties are so easy though…gtfo
I am a eurosnob? How? I am defending the style of mls play. I think that actually makes me the opposite of a eurosnob.
For one thing you are a hater. Plain and simple. This is evident in that you say you wish he was playing in Europe but you would not want him on your team. The real story is that you just wish he was not on the Galaxy because they are an opponent in the western conference to reals salt lake.
He has 3 penalty kick goals this year, and I believe he drew one of them. If we play your game of taking the penalty kick goals away that would put him at 5 goals, 1 behind henry who is at six. So without penalties being given he would still be up there. So your logic is pointless.
Haters gonna hate…and Landon Donovan is going to continue to be the best in the league.
I agree, unless you choke! We have Landycakes PK choke to thank for our cup in 09!
Donovan is incredible yes, and I don’t believe we change the rules of soccer here, but for any player to be listed as top goal scorer when they are all PK’s is a joke! I know Landycakes (which I still call him) can make incredible shots, but how about they change the stats for ALL players in the MLS for top pk’s, and top run of play goals? Where would that put him this year? At 2 in play, and 6 pk’s??? It’s pretty lame when your team is only winning from the penalty spot! As a RSL fan, I don’t wish he was on my team. As a USMNT fan, I would love to see him go back to Everton, or just Europe in general. We need more of the USMNT guys at top level. Also-I hate the Dynamo more then LA, and Arena does make LA boring/worse!
I should have known LA fans would be touchy about fashion stuff… 😉
I believe he did bc he got subbed around the 70th minute. he was playing alongside Bruin.
lol! I still call him landycakes and i love the guy 😛
you forgot #3
3. pissed off MLS fan that wishes that the greatest player in US history was on their team
lol, so you wanna go back to penalties instead of draws, cannons and cheerleaders and all the cheezy bs?
As a Galaxy fan I sadly agree with you. Arena’s boring tactics has cost us many late points lost as well…
we have had the most ridiculous schedule though so I guess I can agree with it now since fatigue is definitely a factor in every single match and constant attacking will kill us.
Did Koke start? I’ve been wondering when they’d stop putting in Aris’s leading scorer 3/4 of the way through the game.
And by missing, I’m including those that are saved.
If you’re a professional soccer player, and the goalkeeper you’re facing isn’t Petr Cech, Iker Casillas, Joe Hart, etc., you shouldn’t be missing PKs.
It’s a comparable situation to pro basketballers missing freethrows. It should happen <10% of the time.
I am an upset Dynamo fan, but I’m not disputing the validity of Donovan’s PK.
That said, I agree that goals from open play should be the only ones that count toward a player’s total when awards and such are on the line.
Anyway, Donovan has no trouble scoring regular goals anyway, so it’s not like it would matter that much.
MLS doesn’t have a title sponsor, so I suggest we call it the “Not Always Pretty MLS.”
The kits are sick. You’re probably color blind so they look purple to you. It’s okay. Don’t feel bad.
The shot was a mess, but the run was beautiful. First time I’ve seen Birchall bob and weave like that. Too bad he didn’t look up and see Donovan onsides with a wide open net in front of him.
I was thinking the same thing. For the first time I can remember, the absence of Beckham had a visible effect on the flow of the game. The end result was good, but without Becks in the midfield, the game was chippy and slow as hell.
+1
maybe we could also award 2 points for goals scored with the head and outside the box, and 3 points for goals scored beyond the 30 yard line. and t-shirt cannons after every goal!
I agree with you, or that the person to take the PK should be the person who got fouled.
How many articles about MLS matches have begun with the phrase, “It wasn’t always pretty….”
I watched the 2nd half and did not see the galaxy in complete control. The dynamo controlled possesion (a lot of 1 touch) but had trouble in the last 3rd of the field. Galaxy had a solid defense including juninho (Player of the game. as Dynamo moved men up to try to equalize that allowed the galaxy to counter but never held possesion for significant amount of time.completely forgot about landon until the announced said his name in the 80th minuteabout scoring a PK.
other notes: watson was running like a mad man (he is getting more comfortable with the team)
Koke had some a few bad passes (thinking he practiced with Brad Davis but ended playing with Freeman on the wing)
young argentinian forward for galaxy showed some good flashes(could use a bit more speed since he wasnt able to outrun one of the slowest defense since Ashe was out)
I was at the game tonight and I’m always happy when we take all 3 points.
But man what a ugly kick ball match it was. You could definetly see the effects of not having DB on the field to help control the tempo and possession aspect of the game.
Thankfully this isn’t the galaxys regular style of play. We’ll take the win and look to capture
3 more in NE.
Then you have no sense of style…They should wear these classy kits more often!
Birchall’s shot was so horrible it looked like it was heading for sideline. This is why the handball was such a lucky one. If anybody has a shot worse than Chad Barret, it is Birchall. Like Houston, LA only scores on set pieces. Boring soccer from the run of play.
No, they play 3 D-Mid, bunker ball 1-0 games…even TFC plays a more attractive style to watch. You are what you are and that’s a Eurosnob…
I really don’t like the LAG jersey shown in the photo.
i think jpa is a big problem. it seems like LA wasnt totally into it. Maybe there’s DB affect…the team cutting him slack, or his presence as creating chances off long passes, or maybe cause they were bored by other team, or this midweek game. Anyway, so DB was supposed to be let off to rest and he ends putting in 90 minutes for an exhibition game. If DB even looks winded in 1st half of upcoming weekend game in Boston, Bruce should bench him whether its the 20th or 34th minute or whatever. Make a statement Bruce.
Exactly, the galaxy were in control of the whole game. The midfield of the galaxy impressed me today. Especially Juninho and Birchall as they were impressive. Chad Barret has a good game as well. However JPA had another disappointing game.
People act like penalties are easy goals. Are they easier than goals in the run of play? Most of the time. But penalties are no sure thing and the penalty taker has a lot of pressure on themselves.
It may have been a bit of a boring game, but it was also a game where the Galaxy was in complete control for 90 minutes. That does not mean that Dynamo could not have stolen a goal and come away with a point, but right now Galaxy have been content to win 1-0. 3 points is 3 points.
I am disappointed to hear that. I guess your not a fan of MLS play in general. Since the galaxy compared to the rest of the league play decent soccer. It is what it is I guess…
I agree though.
PK goals should not count toward your overall goal tally.
Soccer fans complaining about PK goals are like plumbers complaining about touching crap. Complain if it’s a bad call. Otherwise pick a new sport, or pick something else to gripe about.
However, I am a season ticket holder for the Galaxy and I sold my tickets tonight. The games have been a bit boring.
Last point. If you don’t see Donovan’s quality you do not understand anything about this game.
You’re right. I mean it is not like the MVP is given to the person who scores the most goals.
Landon has shown he is the class of the league the past 8 or so games now. So in response to your statement about Donovan only being in the race for awards because of pk goals I can only think you are one of two things.
1. A upset Dynamo fan.
2. One of the few who still refer to Landon as Landycakes.
I think PK goals should count as half-goals. I’m sick of Donovan being in the running for awards because he can shoot it into an empty net.
Boring Arena ball prevails again…Galaxy could play much more attractive football. Houston needs a playmaker, their offense was dreadful. Koke hardly saw the ball because they could barely push it past midfield. MLS should trash these Wednesday games if teams are just going to play like this.
Yawner