So much hype was created before the game even began, but the Los Angeles Galaxy versus New York Red Bulls match left even more excitement afterward.
“It was a very intense game, and they applied pressure on us,” Mexican defender Rafael Márquez says. “Maybe we didn’t play our best game, but we had a lot of chances to score. I think it was a fair result.”
Both squads settled for a 1-1 draw after giving the fans what is arguably the best game of the season thus far in the MLS.
“I thought it was a good game,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena says. “Both teams had chances to win it. I think it was well played and probably a fair result.”
Two of the league’s best players netted goals, beginning with widely known French striker Thierry Henry in the fourth minute of play. After making a run into the right flank, Henry received a brilliant pass from Jamaican midfielder Dane Richards. Henry then made it to the box and fired a low running shot past a Galaxy defender and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
“Tonight, for the neutrals it must have been a good game. They saw some great football. The Galaxy played very well in the first half,” Henry states.
Four minutes before halftime, midfielder Landon Donovan scored his team-leading fourth goal of this campaign. English stud David Beckham delivered a corner kick into the opponent’s penalty area, where Donovan perfectly jumped and managed a header past the Red Bulls’ goalkeeper.
“Great corner by David,” Donovan says of Beckham’s team-best fifth assist. “I had the leeway to go into the box if I wanted and I just got into a good spot, it went over Omar [Gonzalez’s] head and I wanted to get it in goal and hit it well.”
Los Angeles visits the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, May 11, for a 4:30 p.m. kick-off before entertaining Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Home Depot Center.
Sports: Soccer [Galaxy Kick]
Coast Clash Ends in 1-1 Draw
By Marvin Vasquez
Article posted on 5/9/2011
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