CARSON, CALIFORNIA (BDCi) – The Los Angeles Galaxy closed out their preseason schedule with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Friday night at Harder Stadium on the campus of UC Santa Barbara.
Jack McBean scored the game-winning goal ten minutes from time as LA overcame an early 1-0 deficit to earn the victory. The win comes just nine days before the Galaxy’s regular season opener against Chicago and gives the club a 5-1-1 record in the preseason, including a 1-1-0 mark against MLS competition.
Colorado took the lead after just 12 minutes when Kevin Harbottle won the ball just inside LA’s half on the right flank and threaded a ball through the center of the Galaxy defense for Drew Moor, who hit a first time shot past Carlo Cudicini, giving the Rapids a 1-0 lead.
The Rapids nearly doubled their lead in the 22nd minute, only for DeShorn Brown to shoot just wide from a tight angle after taking the ball off the foot of Sean Franklin. That move proved costly as Los Angeles tied it up 14 minutes later with Marcelo Sarvas tapping home the rebound off a Robbie Keane shot.
With both teams looking to prove their fitness ahead of next weekend’s start to the regular season, neither team made any changes at intermission and each had a chance to break the deadlock inside the opening 15 minutes of the second half. First Cudicini made a save on Atiba Harris in the 53rd minute and Robbie Keane appeared to be knocked over inside the penalty area five minutes later, only for referee Alex Chapman to book the Galaxy captain for diving.
The score remained tied at 1-1 until the 80th minute when Jack McBean, who had come on nine minutes earlier for Michael Stephens, poked home a loose ball from the center of the penalty area.
Seven players went the full 90 minutes for the Galaxy, including Robbie Keane who wore the captain’s armband and Juninho. Those two were joined by goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini and the entire back line of A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant, Sean Franklin and Leonardo.
By: Natania Levine
Source: lagalaxy.com
Photo: facebook.com
25 February 2013
9:13 a.m. P.S.T