Galaxy Fades Out at San Jose
Forward Landon Donovan promised a surprise in the return match of the midseason home-and-home series between his San Jose Earthquakes and the Galaxy.
He should have guaranteed a goal.
Donovan’s third score this season gave the Western Conference-leading Earthquakes a 1-0 victory Sunday night at intimate Spartan Stadium, avenging the Galaxy’s 2-1 victory Thursday night at the Rose Bowl.
The Earthquakes improved to an MLS-best 10-5-2 and, dating to last season, won a Major League Soccer-record 10th consecutive match at home.
The previous record of nine in a row was shared by the Galaxy, the Colorado Rapids, the Columbus Crew and the defunct Miami Fusion.
The Galaxy, held scoreless on the road for the second consecutive game, fell to 7-7-2 and remained in fourth place in the West with 23 points, which would tie the New York/New Jersey MetroStars for first place in the East.
In a physical match--38 fouls were called and five yellow cards were issued--the Galaxy had trouble maintaining possession or the momentum it gained Thursday.
“I’m disappointed with the result, that’s for sure,” Coach Sigi Schmid said. “Obviously in this league, some players get protection and some don’t. And right now it seems like we don’t have a player who’s going to get protection.”
In front of 12,528, the Earthquakes got the game-winner in the 35th minute.
With midfielder Ramiro Corrales approaching the goal from the left flank, Donovan created space between himself and defender Adam Frye in the middle of the field.
Corrales sent a perfectly timed cross near the top of the goalkeeper’s box and Donovan drilled a right-footed shot past Kevin Hartman for the goal.
Frye looked to referee Terry Vaughn for an offside call, but replays showed Donovan stayed back just long enough.
“Adam said he got pushed by Landon,” Schmid said. “For sure, Landon looked like he was going to go inside then curled his run to the back post behind him. Whether he was offside or not, I can’t tell from where I was sitting. But certainly he finished the goal well and he escaped from [Frye].”
Schmid also said that forward Cobi Jones, who took a hard shot to the head early in the match but stayed in, probably had a mild concussion and would be examined today.
Hartman had six saves, but San Jose’s Joe Cannon had three for his league-leading sixth shutout.
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In another MLS game:
Chicago 2, Colorado 1--David Vaudreuil scored five minutes into overtime at Naperville, Ill., to help the Fire end a four-game losing streak.
Dema Kovalenko centered a pass inside the six-yard box to Vaudreuil, who redirected it with his trailing left foot past David Kramer.
It was the second overtime victory ever for the Fire (6-7-2).
Midfielder Chris Henderson gave Colorado (8-8-1) a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, firing a 17-yard shot inside the left post.
Josh Wolff headed his own rebound to tie the score in the 63rd minute. Kelly Gray lofted a 25-yard pass to Wolff, whose first shot bounced off the left post.
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In a Women’s United Soccer Assn. game:
Philadelphia 3, New York 1--Marinette Pichon scored three goals in the second half to lead the Charge at Villanova, Pa.
Pichon leads the WUSA with 12 goals and 25 points.
Philadelphia (9-1-3) extended its unbeaten streak to eight games and moved into a first-place tie with Carolina. Both teams have 30 points, but the Charge has played one fewer game.
Krista Davey scored for New York (2-11-1), which lost its seventh in a row.
Pichon ended a scoreless tie in the 77th minute and scored two minutes later. She scored during injury time when she redirected a cross from Zhao Lihong.
Philadelphia has given up a league-best 11 goals and New York a league-worst 41 goals.
