LA Galaxy 0 : 2 Sounders FC

Beckham Sees Red as the Sounders See Goals

Sounders broke their run of five games without a goal and a stream of defeats, but the story of the night will not revolve around them. Seventeen minutes into the game, an event most US soccer fans would have regarded as unthinkable took place. Untouchable superstar David Beckham, the man for whom the entire rules of the MLS were changed, chose to lunge studs first at former Galaxy colleague Peter Vagenas. Referee Salazar astonished everybody by reaching to his pocket and producing a red card. There was no doubt in the minds of anyone watching that the decision was completely correct. There was some surprise though that the rules were applied to David Beckham.

Sounders had previously blown a man advantage against Chicago Fire when Freddie Ljungberg had got himself sent off five minutes into the man advantage. However five minutes into this one man advantage, something else entirely happened. Brad Evans received the ball on the right-hand side and made significant progress towards the goal line, beating Gregg Berhalter comprehensively. He curled a beautiful pass around two retreating defenders into the path of Steve Zakuani. The Congolese slotted home Seattle’s first goal in 335 minutes.

LA’s response to the goal and the red card will appall most of those who watched it. Rather than attempt to level the game on goal score, they immediately set about trying to level the red card count. A series of dives and over-embellishments was accompanied by persistent dissent aimed at persuading referee Salazar to book and send off Sounders players. They finally succeeded and predictably it was Tyrone Marshall who was ejected. Rightly yellowed for hauling back an opponent by his shoulder, his second yellow was awarded in controversial circumstances.

Whereas his first yellow card was uncontroversial, the manner of the second will arouse more unwanted headlines for Landon Donovan. Donovan had entered the fray at halftime and already spent most of the second half in conversation with the referee in pursuance of red cards for Seattle. Fifteen minutes from the end he threw himself headlong in the vicinity of the already booked Marshall. Referee Salazar fell for what was clearly a con job, and produced Marshall’s second yellow. Three minutes after that Eddie Lewis became the third player ejected after needlessly slapping the back of James Riley’s head. Sounders completed their 2-0 victory with a second half Fredy Montero goal scored after a Peter Vagenas corner had been nodded on by Nate Jaqua. The goal nine minutes into the second half ended LA’s hopes of victory and was the start of the more petulant personality the side exhibited.

Even before kickoff there were surprises in store. Freddie Ljungberg was not selected for the Sounders and Landon Donovan was also on the bench, presumably still feeling the aftereffects of the swine flu he contracted in Boston. As well as missing Ljungberg through an unspecified illness, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was suspended. Patrick Ianni came in as a straight replacement for Hurtado at centre half.

Other than the red card incidents, the goal incidents were somewhat rare, as the Sounders defended both their goal and their man advantage professionally. Osvaldo Alonso, Leo Gonzalez and Nate Jaqua all drove shots wide of the goal and Kasey Keller fielded what little activity he was called upon for confidently. A.J. DeLaGarza had cleared a second half Fredy Montero effort off his own line with Ricketts beaten, as Sounders used their man advantage to create chances.

With this victory Sounders both ended a poor run for themselves and a good run for their hosts. They move back to second in the table but it will be Landon Donovan and David Beckham who are the subject of tomorrow’s headlines. Much of the debate will centre round the issue of whether, after spells with Manchester United and Real Madrid, two clubs generally acknowledged to be above the law, Beckham has the stomach for a level playing field.

Sounders have another game this Thursday at home to New England Revolution, who didn’t play this weekend. Galaxy visit Chicago Fire on Wednesday and DC United on Saturday.

Saturday’s Other MLS Scores:

Toronto 2 : 0 DC United
Columbus Crew 2 : 0 FC Dallas
New York 0 : 2 Chivas USA
Real Salt Lake 0 : 0 Houston

Vote for the Man of the Match

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
Houston	23	11	6	6	39
Seattle	21	8	8	5	32
Los Angeles	21	7	10	4	31
Colorado	20	8	6	6	30
Chivas USA	19	9	3	7	30
Real Salt Lake	21	7	6	8	27
FC Dallas	21	6	5	10	23
San Jose	20	4	5	11	17

Los Angeles Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant, Eddie Lewis, Stefani Miglioranzi (Landon Donovan 45), David Beckham, Chris Klein (Bryan Jordan 58), Jovan Kirovski, Alan Gordon (Mike MaGee 61).

Substitutes: Josh Saunders, Dema Kovalenko, Tony Sanneh, Chris Birchall,

Seattle Sounders FC: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Leo Gonzalez, Steve Zakuani (Sebastien Le Toux 74), Osvaldo Alonso, Peter Vagenas, Brad Evans, Fredy Montero (Zach Scott 81), Nate Jaqua (Sanna Nyassi 88).

Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl, Freddie Ljungberg.

Further Reporting:

Prost Amerika Special Comment – Did Ricardo Salazar Speak for America?

Beckham Just Using England – Grant Wahl Interview

Match Preview

Landon Donovan Catches Swine Flu

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