The Columbus Crew scored three goals in the second half to claim a pulsating 3-3 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
Steven Lenhart scored the equalizer two minutes from time after a scramble in front of the goal. Brad Evans and Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored in the 67th and 71st minutes respectively for Columbus.
Landon Donovan had two goals, including a penalty kick in the 83rd minute that appeared to have given the Galaxy a late match-winner, while Edson Buddle also scored for the hosts.
Columbus now has three goals apiece in their last two road games and will head home to face Colorado trailing first-place New England by a pair of points.
Things, though, did not start off well for the Crew. With the ball sailing into touch in the fourth minute, David Beckham sent the ball back toward the front of goal. Crew 'keeper William Hesmer leapt but could only graze the ball as it came down, and Donovan easily turned and knocked the ball into an empty net.
For the Crew, the goal was a complete turnaround from last week's match. Columbus scored in the third minute in a 3-0 win at Kansas City. The Crew thus had to deal with a deficit for the third time in the last four games. Each of those deficits, though, turned into losses.
The Galaxy initially sat back after the goal as the Crew sent numbers forward in trying to secure an equalizer. While the Crew had little problem getting the ball into the final third of the field, their passing let them down as Robbie Rogers and Alejandro Moreno saw little service early in the first half.
Galaxy rookie Sean Franklin took down Schelotto from behind in the 25th minute and earned a yellow card. The foul set up a set piece some 25 yards out but Schelotto sent his attempt wide of the net.
The Crew almost got caught on a counterattack but Edson Buddle pushed a header wide. Beckham had space on the right side and crossed a ball to the left side of the penalty area where Buddle sat unmarked. The former Crew striker, though, powered his header just wide of the left post.
Rogers had an opportunity to level the score in the 44th minute. Moreno found Rogers behind the Galaxy's backline. Rogers ran into the penalty area and caught Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin off his line. Rogers' 15-yard attempt, though, was too potent and sailed over the crossbar.
As they had in the first half, the visitors had defensive problems early in the second half. Buddle got past Danny O'Rourke in the penalty area, dribbled toward goal and fired a shot past a helpless Hesmer and gave the Galaxy a 2-0 lead.
The Crew turned around the pressure, though, and Evans finally broke through for the Crew in the 67th minute on a fortuitous bounce. Barros Schelotto crossed the ball into the area where it bounced off Galaxy midfielder Alvaro Pires. The ball fell to Evans who easily knocked the ball into the net.
Rogers helped the Crew get even four minutes later. Rogers dribbled into the penalty area and was tripped up by Chris Klein. Referee Mark Geiger immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Schelotto ripped the ball straight down the middle and the Crew leveled terms.
Alan Gordon appeared to have put the Galaxy in the lead in response, but his header went into the outside of the net. But in the 83rd minute there was no question. O'Rourke fouled Beckham inside the penalty area and Donovan converted the ensuing penalty kick to again put the Galaxy into the lead.
However, five minutes Lenhart was in the right place at the right time as he knocked in a rebound for the game's final goal. Frankie Hejduk powered a shot that sailed through a crowd in front of goal that Cronin couldn't handle, and the Crew rookie pounded home the rebound for his first MLS goal.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
