By IVES GALARCEP
When Landon Donovan scored the third of his three goals on Sunday night, the U.S. Men’s National Team star probably thought his hat-trick would be enough to help the Los Angeles Galaxy leave Texas with three points.
Blas Perez had other plans.
Just two weeks after being on the losing end of the Gold Cup final to Donovan and the U.S., the Panamanian Perez exacted a measure of revenge when he delivered an 82nd-minute equalizer to help FC Dallas salvage a 3-3 draw vs. the Galaxy at FC Dallas Stadium.
Donovan’s three goals helped the Galaxy recover from deficits on two occasions, just before halftime and in the 73rd minute, and when he finished his trifecta with an 82nd-minute goal, the Galaxy looked poised for a victory.
Perez spoiled the party for the Galaxy, pouncing on a failed clearance attempt and volleying home an equalizer just four minutes after Donovan’s third goal.
FC Dallas opened the scoring in the 15th minute courtesy of a Matt Hedges goal, but Donovan tied things up in first-half stoppage time. Perez scored his first goal of the night just three minutes after halftime, a goal that Perez appeared to score after starting out in an offside position, but FCD’s final lead of the night was squashed by Donovan’s 73rd-minute equalizer.
The draw helped the Galaxy edge ahead of Seattle for fifth place in the Western Conference, while the point helped keep FC Dallas within a point of the Galaxy.
Here are the match highlights:
What did you think of the match? Surprised to see the Galaxy defense give up three goals? Think the comeback can help FC Dallas snap out of their winless slide?
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