Real Salt Lake 3:0 LA Galaxy
SANDY, UTAH – New signing Juan Manuel Martinez put on a stellar display as Real Salt Lake eased past LA Galaxy with a 3-0 vs LA Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium. Devon Sandoval scored a brace, while Javier Morales converted from a spot-kick.
This was a crucial game for either side – RSL needed a win to stay in the playoff hunt after they had picked up a rare away victory at Houston last weekend. They were still eighth in the conference, however, and a good six points behind Portland Timbers, who were sitting at the final playoff spot.
Galaxy, on the other hand, were more comfortably placed at third in the conference, although they were coming into the game scoreless in their last two matches. Nonetheless, it was hardly cause for panic, and now at the business end of the season, Arena’s men were still well in contention for the Supporter
With Bruce Arena playing Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Giovanni Dos Santos in his starting XI and RSL playing an attack-minded 4-2-3-1, this promised to be a very open game. The opening minutes did not disappoint, and RSL got ahead as early as the 3rd minute. After some good pressing by RSL forwards to win an early corner, Morales picked out Aaron Maund in the Galaxy box. The defenders’ lobbed header found Davon Sandoval at the far post, who poached neatly from close range.
Galaxy slowly started coming into the game though, and started to overload RSL in their right-back position. Following a Galaxy set-peice, Giovanni dos Santos had a wonderful chance in the 17th minute to pull Galaxy level, but his shot from close range went over the bar. In the 23rd minute, Steven Gerrard had an effort saved by Rimando following a DeLaGarza cross.
However, it was RSL who made the next significant move of the game when new recruit Juan Martinez took on Juninho in the Galaxy box. The Brazilian was beaten for pace and conceded the spot-kick after he clipped Martinez. Javier Morales coolly converted from the spot in the 28th minute to give RSL a two-goal cushion.
Juninho would be dispappointed to give away the penalty – while Martinez’s pace and directness was menacing, he was going to the byline and wasn’t a direct threat on goal.
RSL managed to close the game early in the second half, after some more impressive play from Martinez. The winger took on the Galaxy defense in the Galaxy box and went to the byline to cross for Sandoval. The forward headed from close range to give RSL an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The match was effectively over as a contest once the third goal went in, as the Galaxy team looked disorganized and disinterested, and could hardly mount any threatening opportunities. Indeed, it could have been RSL to extend the lead – Plata had a goal (correctly) disallowed for offside, and Martinez had a shot blocked by Ricketts in the 78th minute.
A goal would have been the perfect icing on the cake for Martinez, who was lively on the ball all evening and created space and opportunities for his teammates.
The Galaxy performance was perfectly summed up in the 90th minute when substitute Alan Gordon’s shot was saved by Nick Rimando in a 1-on-1 situation. The rebound fell kindly for Edson Buddle, who missed an open goal with Rimando already off-position.
The win keeps RSL’s playoff hopes alive, leaving them three points behind sixth-placed Portland Timbers, as they face San Jose on Sept 27. Bruce Arena would be hoping this is nothing more than a minor blip in an otherwise successful campaign, as they take on FC Dallas at home.
