Galaxy fall to Rapids on penalty kicks
Los Angeles can not score in 120 minutes, drops Open Cup play-in match
It didn't matter that the task at hand didn't have a bearing on the Major League Soccer standings. But coach Bruce Arena's squad was in need of redemption and a confidence boost.
The Galaxy left The Home Depot Center field without accomplishing either task after a 4-2 loss on penalty kicks against a shorthanded visiting Colorado Rapids after a scoreless draw over 120 minutes in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game.
Colorado goalkeeper Preston Burpo stopped penalty kicks by Chris Klein and Mike Magee while Omar Cummings, Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark and Ugo Ihemelu converted for the Rapids.
The Rapids move on to face the winner of an April 28 match between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake, with the winner of that game qualifying for the Open Cup.
The Galaxy return to MLS action Saturday against arch-rival Chivas USA but not after failing to convert several opportunities in regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.
Most of those misses were authored by Alan Gordon. The veteran forward had a chance to give the Galaxy a lead late in the match but couldn't send the ball in with only the goalkeeper to beat, poking the ball over the crossbar in what was the Galaxy's clearest chance of putting away the Rapids.
Gordon made it a point earlier this week that his team needed a win regardless of the game's importance, after losing to the Rapids 3-2 on Saturday. It left the Galaxy winless this season. And it reminded Galaxy veterans they were eliminated from U.S. Open Cup contention last year with a 1-0 loss to Colorado in a play-in game.
Maybe that is why Gordon put himself in a handful of possible scoring scenarios during the first overtime against a Rapids team that played 84 minutes with 10 men. Greg Dalby was shown a direct red card for a hard foul on Galaxy midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi in the 36th minute.
The Galaxy thought they had taken the lead when Gordon sent in a header into the back of the net in the 71st minute. But he was called offside after a Tristan Bowen shot was blocked by a Rapids defender, sending the ball floating near the left post where Gordon beat Burpo to the ball.
Colorado also had several opportunities to take the lead in overtime. Forward Jacob Peterson sent a blast from about 20 yards out but it was deflected by Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders into the stands.
Mehdi Ballouchy blasted a shot straight into the hands of Saunders in the two minutes into the second overtime of a match in which both teams featured mostly reserves.
Yohance Marshall, Gregg Berhalter and Bowen made their first start with the Galaxy. Nick LaBrocca, Colin Clark and Burpo were the only starters on the Rapids lineup who started in the meeting on Saturday night.
Ivan Orozco is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
Colorado Rapids
(1-0-0)
vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
(0-1-0)
April 07, 2009 -- The Home Depot Center
Scoring Summary:
Penalty-kick shootout:
COL -- Omar Cummings (Goal)
LA -- Alan Gordon (Goal)
COL -- Mehdi Ballouchy (Goal)
LA -- Chris Klein (Saved)
COL -- Colin Clark (Goal)
LA -- Bryan Jordan (Goal)
COL -- Ugo Ihemelu (Goal)
LA -- Mike Magee (Saved)
Colorado Rapids -- Preston Burpo, Kosuke Kimura (Ugo Ihemelu 75), Ty Harden, Scott Palguta, Ivan Guerrero, Colin Clark, Terry Cooke (Jordan Harvey 90), Greg Dalby, Nick LaBrocca (Mehdi Ballouchy 46), Jacob Peterson, Ross Schunk (Omar Cummings 63),
Substitutes Not Used: Steward Ceus, Michael Holody, Gregory Richardson
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Josh Saunders, Omar Gonzalez (Josh Tudela 91), Gregg Berhalter (Mike Magee 74), Yohance Marshall, A.J. DeLaGarza, Sean Franklin, Jovan Kirovski, Stefani Miglioranzi, Kyle Patterson (Chris Klein 61), Tristan Bowen (Alan Gordon 61), Bryan Jordan,
Substitutes Not Used: Miguel Benitez, Todd Dunivant, Julian Valentin
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Colorado Rapids | |||
| total shots: | 24 | (Alan Gordon 6) | 11 | (Jacob Peterson 3) |
| shots on goal: | 6 |
(Jovan Kirovski 2, Alan Gordon 2) | 3 | (3 tied with 1) |
| fouls: | 12 | (Bryan Jordan 3) | 8 |
(Greg Dalby 2, Jordan Harvey 2) |
| offsides: | 6 | (Bryan Jordan 3) | 0 | |
| corner kicks: | 8 | (Jovan Kirovski 8) | 2 | (Mehdi Ballouchy 2) |
| saves: | 3 | (Josh Saunders 3) | 6 | (Preston Burpo 6) |
Misconduct Summary:
COL -- Greg Dalby (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 36
LA -- Omar Gonzalez (caution; Reckless Tackle) 41
LA -- Yohance Marshall (caution; Reckless Tackle) 63
LA -- Mike Magee (caution; Dissent) 109
referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Referee's Assistants: Ian Anderson; Brandon Whitson
4th official: Kevin Stott
time of game: 2:34
attendance: 6,219
weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 59 degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
