Landon Donovan helps Galaxy earn a 2-2 tie with San Jose
Entering the Galaxy’s game Thursday against the San Jose Earthquakes, only one MLS team hadn’t staged a comeback when its opponent scored first.
The Galaxy, that lone team, did something to change that fact in a 2-2 tie with the Earthquakes at the Home Depot Center. A goal from Landon Donovan in the 90th minute saved the Galaxy from dropping to 0-3 in games in which they had fallen behind.
“It was a poor start to the game,” Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said. “For whatever reason, we came out and were sloppy in the first couple minutes.”
With San Jose midfielder Bobby Convey’s second-minute rebound and subsequent goal, the Earthquakes (6-4-5) took control as streamers from the opening ceremony still were in the air.
At 12-2-4, the Galaxy doesn’t fall behind often. Yet the fact remains that it was 0-2 after going down a goal and hadn’t come back to tie this season before Thursday.
There were several moments where it seemed as if the Galaxy would put on a comeback. The most controversial of those came in a scramble with Convey heading a ball from Galaxy forward Edson Buddle into the top post with what appeared to be a handball.
Buddle scored in the 59th minute, but the 1-1 tie lasted only 13 minutes.
Earthquakes midfielder Brandon McDonald rebounded a shot and put it in after Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts stumbled in the 72nd minute.
The Galaxy had 22 shots and sent nine of them on goal. Eight of those came in a second half when the Galaxy dominated possession.
What kept Galaxy shots out of the net were quick reactions by San Jose defenders. They slid to stop and hopped in front of several close plays as the Galaxy tried to make up for a slow start.
“We were lucky to get the point at the end of the game because of the way we dug a few holes,” Arena said.
