It took five games, with four of those ending in frustrating ties, before the Los Angeles Galaxy finally enjoyed the satisfaction of their first victory of the season.
They had come from behind in four of their previous games, but they didn't need any of those heroics on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. Perhaps it took a lowly opponent like the New York Red Bulls, who came in with 1-4-2 record, but the Galaxy weren't about to be choosy for someone to pick on. Landon Donovan scored on a penalty kick in the 39th minute and the defense made it stand up in a 1-0 victory.
Los Angeles (1-1-4), which hadn't beaten the Red Bulls at home in almost three years but had a 7-4-3 record all-time against New York in southern California, came out the aggressors and clearly had the upper hand for most of the game.
It didn't even take them a minute to get a good chance when veteran midfielder Chris Klein, honored before the match for playing in his 300th career MLS game -- seventh all-time in the MLS career record books -- sent in a cross to Donovan right in front of the net that just missed connecting.
Klein was at it again a minute later, this time on the receiving end of a long pass from defender Gregg Berhalter. Klein was in great position at the goal area, but Berhalter's pass took a big bounce and went over Klein's head over the end line and out of play.
The Red Bulls, winless on the road this season (0-4-1), didn't even attempt their first shot until 14 minutes in by Alfredo Pacheco, whose 30-yard attempt easily was stopped by Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, and the Galaxy were at it again on the offensive end moments later.
Eddie Lewis' 30-yard free kick was inches too high for Berhalter on a deflection right in front of the Red Bulls goal and Klein then barely missed connections with Donovan on another close-in attempt. Only a challenge by Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway, who came well out of the six-yard box, prevented the Galaxy from taking an early lead.
New York finally had its first real scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute when Jorge Rojas sent a corner kick right in front of the Galaxy net to Kevin Goldthwaite, whose deflection with his right foot from point-blank range was denied on a nice reaction save by Ricketts.
The Galaxy had another chance in the 31st minute -- Klein was stopped from 10 yards by Conway -- but Los Angeles wasn't denied eight minutes later.
Donovan, trying to gain possession of the ball at the top corner of the New York penalty area, turned and shot the ball directly at the Red Bulls' Seth Stammler. The ball hit Stammler on his hip, bounced up and made contact with his arm. Linesman Frank Anderson raised his flag for a handball and referee Abbey Okulaja signaled moments later for an attempt from the penalty spot.
Donovan, who has had a hand in each of the Galaxy's six goals prior to Saturday, was at it again and placed his shot into the net under a diving Conway for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
It was the first time the Galaxy had taken a lead since the second game of the season against the Colorado Rapids on April 4. That game, however, ended in a 3-2 loss.
Neither team mounted much of an attack in the second half, but the Galaxy's Edson Buddle just missed high with a header from six yards in the 74th minute.
Second-half substitute Stefani Miglioranzi also had a good chance, but his 22-yard effort didn't have much on it and Conway made the easy save. Lewis had a header turned away by Conway in the 82nd minute, and Donovan was high with the rebound from 12 yards.
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
