Published 8/7/2011 5:24:51 AM by Roverto Garcia from soccermogul

It was a battle of the two best teams in the MLS Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles.  The LA Galaxy bounced back from their midweek loss at Portland and held off their closest competitors on Saturday, rallying on FC Dallas for a 3-1 win at the Home Depot Center. The victory pushed the Galaxy out to 48 points, six better than second-place FCD.
 
Omar Gonzalez, Juninho and Mike Magee scored for LA, while Marvin Chávez accounted for the FC Dallas goal.  All three Galaxy goals involved set pieces.
 
The visitors raced out to a quick 1-0 lead in the ninth minute after a splendid quick sequence. Zach Loyd carried the ball down the right touchline and found Maicon Santos near the edge of the Galaxy penalty area. The newly acquired Brazilian held the ball and drew Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter toward him and then laid the ball off to Chávez, who ripped a shot off the crossbar and over the goal line from 20 yards out.
 
The match then got a bit chippy with players from both sides arguing calls. Referee Michael Kennedy handed out two cards to each side as Mike Magee and Berhalter were booked for the Galaxy while FC Dallas’ Ricardo Villar and Jair Benítez saw yellow.  David Beckham, though, was fortunate to escape a booking after launching a ball sky-high following a foul whistled on A.J. DeLaGarza.
 
The Galaxy were able to tie the game in the 32nd minute as David Beckham swung a long free kick to the right post. FCD goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and defender George John couldn't get out of each other’s way and the two fell, allowing the ball to bounce in the box. With a wide-open goal staring right into his mask-covered face, Omar Gonzalez easily headed the ball into the back of the net.
 
It took a bit of a fluke play, but the Galaxy grabbed the lead in the 62nd minute. After an LA free kick from the right flank, the ball bounced around in the box. Juninho latched onto the rebound and hit a slow-roller on goal that bounced off the left post, across the goal line and settled into the inside of the right post.
 
The hosts punctuated their victory with a late goal, again off a set piece. Beckham swung yet another corner kick in on goal and Magee smashed the ball into the back of the net, helping the Galaxy seal their victory.
 
With the win, the Galaxy improve to 13-3-9 on the season and now get a 10-day break before opening CONCACAF Champions League group-stage play on August 16 against Motagua of Honduras. Fellow CCL participants FC Dallas, meanwhile, fall to 12-6-6. They next travel to Philadelphia on August 13.

Print