PHOTO BY ISIPHOTOS.NET
BY ADAM SERRANO
The LA Galaxy and D.C. United limped to an uninspiring scoreless draw on Friday night in front of 20,030 at the Home Depot Center.
The Galaxy extended a seven-game unbeaten streak with the draw and took its shutout streak to 411 minutes. While the defense was able to maintain a shutout, the offense struggled without Landon Donovan. Without Donovan's marauding presence on the flanks, the Galaxy offense was without width and forced to play through the middle, something that suited the energetic United defense well. Following the match, defender Todd Dunivant admitted that his team missed Donovan's presence.
Without the presence of Donovan, the Galaxy struggled throughout the match to generate much offense, which was due in part to an energetic D.C. United backline, whose average age was a scant 22. In particular, 19-year-old rookie Perry Kitchen was a constant hinderance to the Galaxy attack breaking up numerous attacks aiding in an dangerous United counter attack.
In part because of the energic play, the finest chance of the game belonged to United, coming from subsitute Charlie Davies,who was playing in his first MLS game since injuring his hamstring on May 14th against the Colorado Rapids. Davies nearly gave United the go ahead goal in the 81st minute after running around Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, but fired a shot that went wide of goalkeeper Josh Saunders' net. Following the match, D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen was complimentary about his team's defensive performance, but admitted that the absence of the Galaxy captain helped his squad.
"I think we certainly deserved more today. I'm a little bit disappointed in the one point. But theyre the best team in the league with landon, lets face it.," said Olsen. "With three rookies in the back, it was a pretty impressive performance from those three young guys. They continue to play beyond their rookie status. Week in, week out, I’d be hard to take those three out of the line up, especially that [Perry Kitchen]."
Donovan was not the only absence as the Galaxy were also forced to deal without goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who is also on international duty with Jamaica. In addition, forward Juan Pablo Angel was a late scratch with a right calf strain that forced him out of the match. The injury bug continued for the Galaxy during the match, as midfielder Juninho was removed at halftime with a left ankle strain.
Los Angeles will now take on Toronto FC next weekend while D.C. United returns to our Nation's Capitol to host the San Jose Earthquakes. The week will provide both clubs with extended rest after short weeks with several matches played. For the Galaxy, it will be a week's training after three days off before their prepartions for United started on Wednesday. Something that David Beckham admits will not be happening again in the future.
"Possibly the three days off was too much, and I think maybe Bruce [Arena] won't be giving us three days off again," said Beckham. "At the end of the day, it was a bad night for us, we just need to forget this performance because it was a disappointing and flat performance, no matter, who was playing or not playing, we're better than that."
I’m off the Beckham bandwagon, but flat out he sent in several dangerous balls that should’ve been finished. Our problem is that we have NOBODY that is going to provide us with goals on a consistant basis. That includes Angel and Donovan. Angel is too old to be consistant, Donovan has been streaky with his goals for the last couple of years, Barrett isn’t worth the boots he wears, and Magee doesn’t know what the word “finish” means.
Should’ve paid Buddle what he was worth.
Davies gets a pass on that bad miss last night since that was his first night back in the lineup in several weeks. He’s not back in form yet. Give him credit for having what it takes just to get a chance like that.
it would be like night and day for galaxy, and for MLS.
c’mon, dont exaggerate the chances on both teams. LA had many more on the doorstep chances. Mcgee’s and Barrett’s misses boggle the mind. When donovan returns, then there’ll be domination. He should spend his entire career in California.
Those are two separate points.
1. Davies should have scored.
2. Sneijder must not have been impressed by what he watched last night, which is bad for the reputation of the league, which matters not because of Davies but because MLS wants to attract more big European stars.
Dunivant’s comments are a direct indictment of Beckham’s performance w/the Galaxy. Beckham is supposed to be a “world-class superstar” yet cannot become the offensive force while playing against kids? The last time the Galaxy played w/o Donovan, I believe, RSL drilled the Galaxy 4-0. At this point in his career, Beckham is nothing but a supplimentary player. If AEG has any brains (an open question, I admit, but I digress), they will not resign Beckham after this season for *any* price.
the point is that Davies really should have scored on that chance. he was around the keeper with an open net. terrible miss
God this game was so boring. the only good action all night was Wesley Sneijder’s wife.
DCU Finishing in last night’s match was horrid. Both Wolff and Davies flubbed terrific chances. Hoping to see more of Brettschneider, who looked decent with his hold up play, touches and movement.
Can you imagine if Donovan had left to Europe, Galaxy would not be where they are right now, they’d be screwed
Hamid..the guy is scary good
HAHA. I bet he is. 😀
I’m sure Charlie is losing a ton of sleep about what Wesley and his wife thought… lol.
You are an idiot. How does speculating about talented players going to Europe make me a Eurodouche when I actually watched the full LA-DC game tonight?
Eurodouche
Good job by DC’s rookie defenders Perry Kitchen, Chris Korb, and Ethan White.
DC has quite a bit of younger talent, including surprises like Blake Brettschneider. And I’m a big fan of Bill Hamid, he looks more promising as a future USMNTer than Sean Johnson imo.
I think an interesting discussion would be: which DCU youngster (excluding Charlie Davies) leaves MLS for Europe first? Najar probably still wins but his percentage of the total vote has to be declining.
Cardozo is a rookie to watch…he energized LA’s play but they still lack finishing
That was a pretty bad miss by Charlie Davies after getting around the Galaxy keeper.
Wesley Sneijder and his wife were at the game and I doubt they were very impressed…