Yesterday the LA Galaxy beat Hollywood United in a charity match that raised over $100,000 for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Edson Buddle hit a hat trick while David Beckham, Chris Klein and Mike Caso each scored 2 goals in a 12 – 4 victory.
The Galaxy will be heading up to Vancouver for a friendly with the Vancouver Whitecaps of USL.
We are a little bit into the season already and before yesterday the Galaxy had not come from behind to win a game yet. It has happened at last.
FC Dallas took the lead in the 11th minute, but then FC Dallas defender Chris Gbandi got a second yellow card and gave Donovan a PK that tied the game after he had to re-take the initial PK that was saved. Chris Klien scored a goal of the week nominee in the 72nd minute to give the Galaxy some much needed points.
Chances are slim but the Galaxy are not eliminated from the playoffs completely yet.
The SuperLiga final was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen this year if not the most exciting.
Pachuca took an early lead on an own goal in the first half. The Galaxy really pushed for 20 minutes at the start of the second half but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. Then Pachuca must have gotten tired of that and they played a masterful game of keep away, occasionally breaking out and attacking the Galaxy goal. Several time Joe Cannon made some huge saves after the defense looked like a high school girls team the way Pachuca went right past them. The Galaxy finally pressured more but were unlucky to not tie the game up before the 90 minute mark.
At the 90th minute the score was still 1-0 but at about minute 92 Chris Klein hit a bicycle that anyone would have been proud of to tie the game and force extra time. Each team had many more chances in the extra time but no goals came of them.
The shootout started off bad with Peter Vagenas being saved by the Pachuca keeper. Cobi Jones, Chris Klein and Edson Buddle all made the next shots while Joe Cannon made one save and another Pachuca PK hit the crossbar. This set up Landon Donovan with a single PK to win the very first SuperLiga. The keeper looked like he knew which way Landon was going to go and made an easy save. Pachuca scored their next and then Abel Xavier hit one wide. Game over Pachuca are champions.
Overall I think the Galaxy looked like the better team more of the time and were unfortunate not to score on many occasions in the 2nd half. The Pachuca keeper was the man of the match for me.
