LA Galaxy Steal Points Late From Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake was without the services of playmaker Javier Morales who was suspended for the match, defender Jamison Olave who picked up a red card in their previous match, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando who suffered a deep laceration on his finger in the previous outing. 

First Half

The Galaxy appeared to come out with respect for Real Salt Lake’s speed at forward, as they were content to allow RSL to possess the ball until the final third.  They tried to create offense from quick counterattacks and balls played over the top. 

On the other side of the ball, Salt Lake spent the first few minutes feeling their way as they had Clint Mathis in the playmaker role in place of Javier Morales who was serving a suspension for disciplinary action from an elbow thrown in their match against Colorado. 

The game lacked any genuine action and attacking play in the first 25 minutes, but started to open up at around that time.  In the 30^th minute, LA Galaxy captain Landon Donovan carried the ball down the right side and was isolated on the much slower Nat Borchers.  He managed to get past Borchers and was taken down at the edge of the box, but was not awarded the penalty. 

A similar play occurred a minute later on the RSL end, as forward Yura Movsisyan was taken down outside of the box, and was awarded the free kick.  Midfielder Clint Mathis stepped up for the free kick with all eyes in the box, but he caught everyone by surprise as he passed it to a wide open Andy Williams at the top of the box, but the veteran midfielder whiffed on the shot as he was still trying to get his hips squared as the ball arrived. 

In the 34^th minute, forward Robbie Findley scored his 5^th goal of the season to open the scoring in the match.  The goal came off of a low cross from Mathis as Findley dove forward and caught the ball with his head just a foot off the ground.  The ball went past a defender and around goalie Donovan Ricketts ending up in the right corner of the net. 

The Galaxy nearly got the equalizer just before the intermission when the ball was knocked down off of a corner kick and settled nicely in front of forward Edson Buddle.  He had open space in between him and goal.  He took a blast at the ball but was leaning back on the play and couldn’t keep the sitter from sailing over the ball. 

Second Half

The second stanza started out with some dangerous chances by RSL.  The first was a cross from Wingert which Findley was able to get his foot on, but it narrowly missed the right side of the goal.  Just a minute later the ball was played into space on the right wing.  Movsisyan blew past the much slower defender, Greg Burhalter. However, Berhalter did a good job to continue pushing Movsisyan toward the endline and Movsisyan was only able to get off a low angle shot without much power. 

For the next 25 minutes, neither team appeared to create much noteworthy danger.  The Galaxy kept numbers behind the ball and RSL had the bulk of the possession.  However, with about 15 minutes to play Real Salt Lake appeared to play off the ball more as they had morphed into a 4-5-1.  At the same time the Galaxy began to push numbers forward as they searched for the equalizer. 

It appeared that Real Salt Lake was going to weather the storm, but they gave up a penalty kick that Donovan converted in the 90^th minute.  The PK came off of a handball call after a ball was driven into the box from midfield by Berhalter.  Referee Michael Kennedy hesitated on the call, but eventually blew his whistle and pointed to the spot.  On the kick, Seitz guessed right and got his arm on the ball, but was unable to keep it out of the net.

Moments later, at the 92^nd minute, RSL earned a penalty kick of their own when substitute forward Fabian Espindola was pulled down by a defender in the box after Mathis had served the ball into the area.  Will Johnson easily put away the ensuing penalty kick. 

Once again, it appeared that the home team would be adding three points to the ledger.  However, as stoppage time ran out at the 94^th minute a scramble occurred in the box.  RSL failed to clear the ball twice.  A shot from the top of the box glanced off of a Real Salt Lake defender and headed toward the endline, but was gathered by substitute forward Mike Magee, who slotted a low angle shot between the legs of Seitz for the Galaxy's second equalizer.

RSL had one last chance as Findley was able to reach a Wingert cross with his head, but his shot just missed the near post.

The match was the first tie on the season for Real Salt Lake, who is now 3-3-1.  They will play at Chivas on Saturday as they look for their first road points.  Meanwhile the Galaxy garnered their 5^th draw on the season for a record of 1-1-5. The Los Angeles squad has developed a knack for late equalizers.  They will next play at Seattle on Sunday.

Randy Davis covers Real Salt Lake for Goal.com