Penalty kicks deciding factor in Galaxy loss
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After more than an hour of woeful soccer Tuesday night, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena turned to Alan Gordon, Chris Klein and Mike Magee to rescue the game.
After a host of miscues and missed chances, Colorado Rapids Coach Gary Smith sent Mehdi Ballouchy, Omar Cummings and Ugo Ihemelu on to turn things around.
None of the moves did any good. After 90 minutes of regulation, the U.S. Open Cup game at the near-empty Home Depot Center still remained scoreless.
Thirty minutes of overtime couldn’t separate the teams, either, and the game went to penalty kicks.
The Galaxy made two of four, with shots by Klein and Magee being saved by Colorado goalkeeper Preston Burpo. Colorado made four of four to win, 4-2.
The first half was a desultory affair, and the second half was worse, with neither team able to raise its game. There were scoring chances, but if they teach finishing in MLS, the lessons were lost on these players.
The Galaxy took 24 shots. The Rapids took 11. None ended up in the net.
For Colorado, Ross Schunk completely missed the net from 12 yards after being perfectly set up by Jacob Peterson, who himself skewed two shots wide.
For the Galaxy, Tristan Bowen skied a header over the bar from a Jovan Kirovski free kick. Bryan Jordan fired wide right after doing well to make space for himself at the top of the penalty area.
Both teams left most of their starters on the bench -- meaning that Landon Donovan, for example, watched from the Galaxy suite.
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