Sunday, May 18, 2008

FC Dallas 1, LA Galaxy 5

By Erin Rice

David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy came back to Pizza Hut Park on Sunday afternoon. Despite a promising start for the FC Dallas offense, the game devolved into a scene similar to their meeting a year ago.

When asked how many goals Buddle planned to score today, he replied, "this many."

Early in the first half, it appeared that FC Dallas would set the pace for the game. Cooper had three chances on net between the 17th and 19th minutes. In the 17th, Anthony Wallace played a floater from the left touchline over the defense, finding Cooper running on goal. When the ball came down Cooper managed a one-touch shot, requiring a foot save from goalkeeper Steve Cronin. The ensuing clear got back to Arturo Alvarez, who slotted a pass through to Cooper once again with nobody to beat but. His shot, however, was more power than placement, as he found only the side netting.

Cooper’s third consecutive look on goal came in the 19th minute. From an unassuming position 40 yards out, he looks up to find Cronin cheating forward and attempts to fire a shot over his head. Cronin was able to get back a deflect the ball wide. FCD creates another goal attempt off the corner, finding Drew Moor on the far side. His diving header misses the frame.

The rest of the half belonged solely to the Galaxy. In the 25th minute defender Chris Klein broke down the right side, cuts towards the goal and slots one under Dario Sala, who was caught on his heels for the first goal of the game and his first of the season. Six minutes later Edson Buddle gets his first goal of the season, beating four FC Dallas players, sending a shoulder height blast to the back of the net.

In the 34rd, LA continues its attack, preying on the lowered heads of the FC Dallas defense. Landon Donovan receives the diagonal ball as he breaks down the left sideline. Davino stepped up to defend, but kept too much distance allowing Donovan a peek at the close post. Sala, expecting the cross, cheats away from the close post. Donovan sneaks a shot towards the middle of the goal, but a deflection from Davino slots it just inside the near post for the own-goal. Shortly thereafter, Buddle finds his second goal of the season after some confusion in front of the net.

Despite a run early in game and a single assist in the second half, FCD could not find their leading scorer enough to put a dent in the scoreboard.

Head Coach Steve Morrow made some substitutions at the half, putting the speedy Dominic Oduro up top and placing the veteran defender Bobby Rhine in the back, removing Wallace and forward Abe Thompson.

Early on, it appeared that the changes could be the answer to an historic comeback. In the 56th minute, LA defender Abel Xavier allowed Cooper to cross from just outside the penalty box finding Oduro who nets a decisive header to put Dallas on the board. But that single effort was the only one FCD could capitalize on. After a dangerous foul against Beckham in the 75th, Adrian Serioux was ejected from the game, forcing Dallas to play the last 15 minutes a man down. Ten minutes later, David Beckham puts a loping ball across to find Buddle who heads home his hat trick.

With no stoppage time called, the game ended 5-1 in a blowout victory for the Galaxy.

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• Soccer > MLS > FC Dallas