Played
June 20, 2012 9:10 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, Utah
Referee: K. Stott
Attendance: 20382
June 20, 2012 9:10 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, Utah
Referee: K. Stott
Attendance: 20382
Real Salt Lake 2-3 LA Galaxy: RSL chokes on two-goal lead
Two goals and an assist from Landon Donovan set the LA Galaxy on the way to an impressive comeback.
By Zac Lee Rigg
Getty
For the firs time in club history, Real Salt Lake coughed up a two-goal lead and lost. Despite going ahead by a pair of goals 25 minutes in and nearly 60 percent of possession, the LA Galaxy steamed back to win 3-2.
The game called back to the opening match of the season when RSL scored three in the final 20 minutes to win 3-1 in California. The roles were reversed in Utah.
Nine minutes in, Fabian Espindola raced to the byline and centered the ball past his marker, Todd Dunivant. Kyle Beckerman capitalized when the ball trickled to the middle of the box by tucking home.
Espindola created the next goal as well. He curled a cross into the box from the flank, and a combination of Alvaro Sabario and A.J. DeLaGarza bizarrely flicked the ball over Josh Saunders in the LA net.
The comeback started only a few minutes later when a sloppy backpass by Tony Beltran put Landon Donovan alone on goal. The Galaxy captain zipped around Nick Rimando and passed the ball into the back of the net.
Another embarrassing error led to the equalizer. Jamison Olave missed a simple trap on a Kyle Beckerman pass, and Mike Magee stole the ball. He played a one-two with Donovan before clipping the far post with a tidy low left-footed shot.
Magee returned the favor to complete the comeback. The midfielder chipped the ball over the RSL backline from the left touchline, and Donovan raced onto it, dragging the ball past Rimando and finishing in two touches.
The win is LA's second in a week following the international break, lifting the club out of bottom spot in the West.
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The game called back to the opening match of the season when RSL scored three in the final 20 minutes to win 3-1 in California. The roles were reversed in Utah.
Nine minutes in, Fabian Espindola raced to the byline and centered the ball past his marker, Todd Dunivant. Kyle Beckerman capitalized when the ball trickled to the middle of the box by tucking home.
Espindola created the next goal as well. He curled a cross into the box from the flank, and a combination of Alvaro Sabario and A.J. DeLaGarza bizarrely flicked the ball over Josh Saunders in the LA net.
The comeback started only a few minutes later when a sloppy backpass by Tony Beltran put Landon Donovan alone on goal. The Galaxy captain zipped around Nick Rimando and passed the ball into the back of the net.
Another embarrassing error led to the equalizer. Jamison Olave missed a simple trap on a Kyle Beckerman pass, and Mike Magee stole the ball. He played a one-two with Donovan before clipping the far post with a tidy low left-footed shot.
Magee returned the favor to complete the comeback. The midfielder chipped the ball over the RSL backline from the left touchline, and Donovan raced onto it, dragging the ball past Rimando and finishing in two touches.
The win is LA's second in a week following the international break, lifting the club out of bottom spot in the West.
Follow ZAC LEE RIGG on
or shoot him an emailGoal.com has a new podcast! Goal Daily Podcast is a MUST for all Soccer fans and discusses the very latest news and views. What’s more when you sign up the service is FREE for the first month and you can cancel anytime.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
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Top & Flop Global Ranking
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Results
Times In EST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
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Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jack McInerney Striker Philadelphia Union |
8 | 0 |
|
Mike Magee Midfielder LA Galaxy |
6 | 1 |
|
Claudio Bieler Striker Sporting KC |
6 | 1 |
|
Marco Di Vaio Striker Montreal Impact |
6 | 0 |
|
Robert Earnshaw Striker Toronto FC |
5 | 2 |
