After getting off to a really bad start in 2012, it seems like LA Galaxy might be turning their season around. After their two-week break, the Galaxy played Portland Timbers at home. I was at that game, and I can tell you, many of the supporters were nervous that day. But we believed in our team, that they could pull off a win. And they did that, thanks to Todd Dunivant, who score the game’s only goal off David Beckham’s corner kick.
Not only was that LA’s first win in 7 matches, it was also their first shut out of the season. After beating Portland 1-0, they went to Salt Lake, to play against Real Salt Lake. I admit I was very nervous about this game too. After all, RSL is number one in the west conference, and LA was 7th. I was just hoping they came back to LA with a point. Luckily, LA proved me and a lot of other people wrong.
Rio Tinto is one of the toughest stadiums in MLS to get a point, let alone 3. RSL scored first, in the 9th minute. Kyle Beckerman, RSL captain, was the one who gave RSL the lead over LA with a nice flick past keeper Josh Saunders. Fifteen minutes later, Alvaro Saborio scored for RSL and they were now leading LA 2-0. It looked like LA was on their way to losing to RSL for the second time this season.
But Captain Landon Donovan wasn’t going to let that happen. He scored LA’s first goal just five minutes later to cut the lead in half. It was a cheeky goal as a bad pass from RSL’s defense left keeper Nick Rimando off his line and Donovan appeared from no where to notch the goal. It was still 2-1 RSL at half time.
LA got off to a good start in the second half. Mike Magee equalized just five minutes. LA was starting to attack and it was starting to look like they could score another goal and get their first win at Rio Tinto since 2006. While LA’s defense looked out of sorts in the first half, it would be RSL’s defense that seemed to have forgotten to come out of the locker room in the seond. After tons of pressure, Mike Magee had a strong shot toward goal and it bounced off the post and into the back of the net to tie things up. RSl tried to get a handle on the game again, but LA had the much needed confidence and the silence of the home crowd at Rio Tinto. Donovan would score LA’s 3rd goal and gave LA the lead in the game for the first time.
The last 20 minutes of the game were very nerve wrecking for us LA Galaxy fans. Thankfully, LA was able to hold on and get the win.
They did something that not many people, including myself, thought they would be able to do – go to Rio Tinto and get 3 points. That’s now two games in a row LA has won. With these 6 points, LA was able to move from last place in the western conference to 6th place. They will be playing Vancouver Whitecaps this Saturday at home. If they keep it up, they will have a chance to make it into the play offs at the end of the season.
