this time from a corner kick -- provided the set-up, Eddie Robinson thumping a header home to hand the Galaxy their sixth consecutive defeat.
The teams played to a scoreless draw on Victoria Street on June 24. It was the first meeting for Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop against long-time assistant Dominic Kinnear and the group that once played for him in San Jose. Each welcomed back World Cup performers to their lineup: Chris Albright starting at right back for the Galaxy, while Brian Ching started up top for Houston.
While Ching wasn't able to add to his goalscoring total -- a Kevin Hartman save of his bullet header in the first half was the best chance of the entire evening -- Albright saw his night end early. But it was for the best of reasons: Albright left the game to attend to his wife Leah, who went into labor with the couple's first child.
It was Dynamo's first trip to Carson since the shift of the San Jose Earthquakes during the offseason, and a couple of hundred fans made the trip down from northern California, taking over a corner of the stadium and wearing Quakes blue to cheer on the Houston side.LAST MEETING
In front of the largest soccer crowd in Texas history - 70,500 at Reliant Stadium, for a doubleheader that also included a friendly between FC Barcelona and Club América - Dynamo held the majority of the play, and nearly went ahead early in the second half when Brad Davis cracked a wicked free kick that beat L.A. 'keeper Kevin Hartman, only to smash off the face of the crossbar.
The Galaxy scored the only goal they needed on a counter in the 69th minute. After the move seemed to stall, Santino Quaranta - acquired just the day before from D.C. United - flicked a 50/50 ball into the air in the right side of the area and then with his next touch hit a dipping full volley that sailed over Dynamo 'keeper Pat Onstad and settled inside the far side netting.
Dynamo again seemed to have pulled level in the 82nd minute when a corner found the back of the net, but the referee's assistant correctly ruled the ball was redirected by the hand of Houston center back Eddie Robinson.
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel (Kelly Gray 76), Ryan Cochrane (Kevin Goldthwaite 92+), Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden (Adrian Serioux 76) - Brad Davis - Brian Ching, Alejandro Moreno. [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Aloisi, Ronald Cerritos, Zach Wells, Chris Wondolowski]
Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Troy Roberts, Ante Jazic - Quavas Kirk (Alan Gordon 84), Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Josh Gardner (Santino Quaranta 58) - Herculez Gomez (Cobi Jones 59), Landon Donovan. [Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Kyle Martino, Kyle Veris, John Wolyniec]U.S. OPEN CUP
On Wednesday, the Galaxy advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Final for the fourth time in club history and second year running, defeating Dynamo 3-1 at The Home Depot Center. They will take on the Chicago Fire on Sept. 27 at Toyota Park.
Alan Gordon continued his rich vein of form with a goal in the sixth minute, putting the Galaxy ahead when he headed home a Landon Donovan corner kick. But Dynamo leveled the match just five minutes later as Dwayne De Rosario tracked down a loose ball that caromed off the corner flag before eventually beating Kevin Hartman inside his near post from a tight angle.
The game changed in the last minutes just before the break. Donovan put the Galaxy ahead in the 44th minute when he bent home a freekick from the edge of the Houston penalty area. Then seconds later L.A. defender Ugo Ihemelu clattered into De Rosario from behind in the Galaxy box, but Hartman dove to his right to push aside the resulting penalty from the Canadian international and keep the lead.
Santino Quaranta scored an insurance goal in second-half stoppage time, finishing off a counter with a neat chip to put the Galaxy in position to win a third successive domestic honor.
Here's Yallop's team: Kevin Hartman, Chris Albright, Ugo Ihemelu, Tyrone Marshall, Ante Jazic (Kyle Veris 69), Cobi Jones (Quavas Kirk 66), Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Santino Quaranta, Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon. [Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Michael Enfield, Josh Gardner, Herculez Gomez, Josh Hansen]
Here's Kinnear's team: Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel (Kelly Gray 46), Ryan Cochrane, Adrian Serioux (Eddie Robinson 46), Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario, Stuart Holden (Kevin Goldthwaite 67), Alejandro Moreno, Chris Wondolowski (Brian Ching 71). [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Aloisi, Patrick Ianni, Zach Wells]
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy continued their charge back into the MLS Cup Playoffs race, winning for the fourth time in six games with a 2-1 victory against the Kansas City Wizards last Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy are still out of the top four in the Western Conference, but are now tied with Real Salt Lake with 32 points from 26 matches, just two points behind fourth-place Chivas USA and three behind the Colorado Rapids.
LAST MATCH
Both teams were desperately looking for the three points to ensure they kept pace in their respective conference races. The Galaxy had lost just twice since the start of July, yet still found themselves in last place in the West. The Wizards had won just twice since mid-June, yet still found themselves in the fourth and final playoff spot in the East, though second and fifth were separated by just four points.
A tame first half burst into life right after the break. Landon Donovan sent Cobi Jones free on the right, and he whipped in a rolling cross that Chris Albright just missed getting onto the end of. But Alan Gordon came in behind and stabbed the ball, sliding in just ahead of a Wizards defender (47).
But just five minutes later the Wizards pulled level. Jose Burciaga Jr. served in a corner from the left and Shavar Thomas rose up to nod home a clear header off the underside of the bar and just over the line from the heart of the six-yard box, his first goal in more than two seasons.
Yet the Galaxy pulled ahead just four minutes later, again through Gordon. Donovan swerved in a free kick from the left flank and Gordon got up to head home from the spot, his third goal in as many games, all his first since coming to MLS last season.
The Wizards nearly got another late equalizer when Davy Arnaud hit a stunning full side volley from all of 30 yards, but the ball crashed off the face of the bar and away.
Galaxy coach Frank Yallop made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 to Real Salt Lake in Utah at midweek. Nathan Sturgis came into central defense in place of Kyle Veris, while Cobi Jones also returned to the lineup after one match, coming into the team in place of Quavas Kirk.
Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Kevin Hartman - Chris Albright, Tyrone Marshall, Nathan Sturgis (Kyle Veris 46), Ante Jazic - Santino Quaranta (Quavas Kirk 58), Paulo Nagamura, Peter Vagenas, Cobi Jones - Landon Donovan, Alan Gordon. [Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Michael Enfield, Josh Gardner, Herculez Gomez, Josh Hansen]
"I guess it wasn't the best game for us entertainment-wise, but obviously it was very important to get three points at this stage in the season," Yallop said. "If you look at the way the team played, they look very fatigued. A lot has to do with mental fatigue because of the tough schedule. For our guys to dig in and win the game was fantastic and they're happy."TEAM NEWS
Gordon had gone his first 18 games in MLS without scoring a goal, but he now has three goals in his last two league games, scoring the opening goal in the 5-2 rout of D.C. United. He opened his Galaxy account with the second goal in the club's 2-0 victory against Roma FC in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup. Just a few weeks ago, Gordon was sent back to Portland on loan, but things have now turned completely around.
"Words can't describe how satisfying this is," he said. "I'm just happy that we got the win. It doesn't really matter who scores. The last few games I feel like I've been getting back into form, you know. The saying seems to be right: You get one in, the floodgates are open. I'm just glad to back that one goal up with some other goals, which we needed."
For a man who was sent to Portland on loan just a few weeks ago, things have turned around for him and the Galaxy thanks in large part to his outburst in the second half, which has now given him four goals in all competitions on the campaign.
"A lot of things worried me," he said. "I wasn't scoring goals. I'm supposed to score goals. But more important than me scoring goals is me and Landon working well up top together. Whether he's scoring or I'm scoring, we're helping each other out. It looks like it's going good right now." Said Yallop: "I'm happy for Alan. He's a great guy and he works hard. But, I don't play players because I like them. I play them if I think they can win me games, and Alan is playing very well right now."
A lot can be blamed on the recent schedule the Galaxy has had to play. Los Angeles has played eight games over the past month, and this week is again faced with another Wednesday-Sunday week as well. According to Yallop, fatigue played a factor in the pace of the game against the Wizards.
"I just told the guys that if we can lift our game to 25 or 30 percent of what were at right now we will get a goal," said Yallop about his intermission talk. "It happened. This is the point in the season where you have to look at yourself and make sure you're giving everything you have."
Said Gordon: "It has to be like that. Every game is our playoff life. We came out the first half a little slow, Frank reminded us we have to step it up. We're tired. We're doing the Wednesday-Saturday thing for a couple weeks. We've got to dig deep."
However, the Galaxy did suffer another setback on the defensive line. Nathan Sturgis was forced from the game at halftime due to a groin injury. Yallop said he thinks his rookie defender will miss the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Houston, and while the Galaxy will again have Ugo Ihemelu available, the Sturgis injury leaves the Galaxy paper thin on the back line.
Yallop was pleased with how his team fought through for victory in Wednesday's Open Cup semifinal. "I think the first half, from a spectators point of view was great. It had everything in it. It had good goals and a penalty save. In the second half I think that both teams struggled, but in the end it is obviously great to get a win like this," he said. "However, we could play better than we did tonight in a lot of areas, but I guess I put it down to tiredness and not getting to practice as much as I would like. We haven't had a true training session in about five weeks now. The guys are sticking to it, though. They fought hard and got themselves into a final. I can't be more proud of the way they saw that game through in the end."
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo lost for the third time in four games, winless over that stretch, after a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday when they nearly held out for an hour while playing a man down. Dynamo are still in second place in the Western Conference with 36 points from 26 matches, now nine behind FC Dallas and just a point ahead of the Colorado Rapids in third, two ahead of fourth-place Chivas USA.
LAST MATCH
The Texas rivals were meeting for the fifth time on the season, and FC Dallas had yet to get the better of their southern foes, Dynamo winning two games (with one draw) in league play and also their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal meeting. The clubs were separated by six points at the top of the Western Conference.
The match changed on the half hour, when Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson was booked twice within the space of a minute for fouls of FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz as the two tangled, first near the Houston goal after a shot went wide, then seconds later at midfield.
Dynamo seemed to have survived the disadvantage for the final hour until the 86th minute, when Arturo Alvarez ran onto an Abe Thompson pass on the left flank. He cut inside Houston defender Adrian Serioux and ripped a low shot inside the far post to give the Hoops their first victory against Dynamo.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that drew 2-2 with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park at midweek. Craig Waibel returned to the team at right back in place of Kelly Gray, and Ricardo Clark returned from suspension, as Ryan Cochrane returned to the substitutes' bench.
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel (Stuart Holden 88), Eddie Robinson, Adrian Serioux, Wade Barrett - Chris Wondolowski (Ryan Cochrane 34), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Kevin Goldthwaite 83) - Dwayne De Rosario - Brian Mullan, Alejandro Moreno. [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Aloisi, Kelly Gray, Julian Nash, Zach Wells]
"The top four make the playoffs. Going into tonight we still want to win the West. It's going to be a very difficult to reach us. Stranger things have happened but we're realistic," Kinnear said. " ... Overall, I think the team played great. We just had one little lapse there, they broke through and it was the only time we kind of had gaps. I thought the way we got back and held our lines was good. That decision by us, we have the ball and get it taken away and they score, so it's difficult."TEAM NEWS
While the loss left Dynamo nine points behind FC Dallas for first place, perhaps more importantly it left them just two points ahead of fourth-place Chivas USA in the final playoff spot.
"In the back of our minds I think we still believed we had a shot at first place and obviously that's out the window now," said a visibly upset Dynamo 'keeper Pat Onstad to the Houston Chronicle. "We've instantly thrown ourselves into a dogfight just to make the playoffs, which is unacceptable for the type of team that we have."
It was also a league-leading sixth red card for Houston. "It's always the retaliator that gets caught," Kinnear said. "He knows (Ruiz) tends to things off the ball. Ruiz did a couple of things and the referees missed it. (Robinson) makes a silly decision and gets caught, and there you go; that puts us behind the 8-ball."
Said Onstad: "The last month has been really disappointing. We are left with 10 men, and we continue to do that and shoot ourselves in the foot. That makes it especially difficult to win games on the road. We need to learn to mature very quickly as a team. Otherwise (come playoff time) we're going to be left on the outside looking in."
It's a vital two games in Carson, after the U.S. Open Cup semifinal. It's also a tough opponent for Dynamo to face twice in four days.
"Frank probably knows our team second-best better than anybody, except me," Kinnear said. "So we'll just go out there and play and hope that our team and our system are better than the ones he puts out there."
Brad Davis missed the Open Cup match a sore ankle, but Brian Ching might be available after missing the last four league matches to knee surgery. He came on as a substitute in the second half in the semifinal.
Kinnear was hoping his team would quickly put behind it the sting of the loss to the Galaxy in the Open Cup semifinal. As the San Jose Earthquakes, the club was four times eliminated by the Galaxy in Open Cup play.
"It was three goals where we had a hand in all their goals. They took their chances, but we are not helping ourselves right now," Kinnear said. "Yes, we created a lot of chances, and the penalty kick save by [Kevin] Hartman going into the half was big. It could have been 2-2 instead of it being 2-1. We created enough chances to score and win the game, but we had some mental mistakes and they capitalized on them."
