Albright Is All Right for Galaxy

Since the Galaxy acquired Chris Albright before the 2002 season from D.C. United, expectations have been high that the forward could fill the team’s need as a capable secondary scoring threat.

But in 25 games with the Galaxy, all Albright could muster was three points on three assists.

Until Wednesday night.

Starting in the midfield at Colorado, Albright scored his first two career goals for the Galaxy, both in the second half, and helped it salvage a 2-2 draw with the Rapids in front of 8,353 at Invesco Field, this after the Galaxy had trailed, 2-0. The Galaxy’s record moved to 2-5-6 with the tie, though the defending Major League Soccer champions have yet to win a road game this season in 10 attempts.

The Galaxy is 0-6-4 away from the Home Depot Center.

The Rapids, meanwhile, moved to 2-7-3 overall.

Mark Chung gave Colorado a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute and the Rapids went up, 2-0, in the 29th minute when John Spencer’s right-footed free kick bent just enough to get by the Galaxy defensive wall and sneak into the net past the right post.

Enter Albright.

Dribbling through Colorado’s duo of Pablo Mastroeni and Seth Trembly, a creative Albright finally finished, firing a shot into the top left corner of the goal in the 66th minute, just as the two were about to converge on him.

Four minutes later, Albright scored the equalizer.

After shaking Rapid midfielder Zach Kingsley, Albright received a cross in the box from Gavin Glinton, who had entered the game as a 32nd-minute substitution for Jesus Ochoa in the midfield.

Albright went up for the ball above Kingsley and headed the ball down past Colorado goalkeeper Scott Garlick.

Salvaging a point with the draw and finding another scoring threat was especially satisfying for the Galaxy, playing its second consecutive game without leading scorer and reigning league most valuable player Carlos Ruiz. His MLS-mandated two-game suspension is served now and he will return Saturday against Dallas.

Plus, the Galaxy will play six straight league games, and eight of nine, at home.