It was a tale of two halves, with the 2-2 draw between the LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire showcasing the triumphs and woes that have defined the seasons of both clubs up to this point in the season.
The first half proved a demonstration of the ways in which David Accam and the Fire can use speed to trouble defenses, with Chicago's left winger involved in the buildup to both goals - ultimately scoring the first off a penalty kick. The Galaxy, for their part, looked a step behind, and head coach Curt Onalfo chose to sub out captain Jelle Van Damme to make a statement.
In the second half the Galaxy came out with a renewed purpose and used a pair of set piece goals to climb back into the match. Forward Giovani dos Santos was visibly relieved to manage his first goal since week 1 of the MLS season.
Goals
- 13' - CHI - David Accam (PK) Watch
- 16' - CHI - Nemanja Nikolic Watch
- 56' - LA - Daniel Steres Watch
- 65' - LA - Giovani dos Santos Watch
Three Things
- SET PIECES, SET PIECES: When a team desperately needs the boost of confidence a goal can bring, set pieces are a great way to get that groove back; LA used their corners to great purpose in their comeback against the Fire. That puts the Galaxy at three goals on the season off corners, and one off a penalty kick. With only five goals this season coming from open play, there's still plenty of work to do in getting the attack back on track.
- TIRING DOWN THE STRETCH: The Fire gave up what would have been a signature road win, but there was plenty to hang their hats on with their play in the first half. They finished the game with 67-percent accuracy on passes in the final third and had three times as many shots on target as the Galaxy.
- OH CAPTAIN: For the second time this season, Curt Onalfo made a tactical sub in the first half -- this time benching Van Damme in a move that made a clear statement. The team responded, with 10 of its 12 shot attempts coming in the second half. The team was still sloppy, the only shots on target all game were the goals, but flowed better without Van Damme.
They Said It
"You could tell at halftime just the demeanor of the team, we knew all we had to do was get the first goal and the second would come."
—LA Galaxy head coach Curt Onalfo
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