Landon Donovan was the difference in what could be a turning point for the Los Angeles Galaxy as they try to turn their season around. It looked like business as usual for Real Salt Lake, with Kyle Beckerman opening the scoring at Rio Tinto Stadium in the 9th minute and Alvaro Saborio making it 2-0 RSL in the 24th. Donovan went to work five minutes later, cutting the lead in half. He setup Mike Magee for the equalizer in the 50th minute. Magee returned the favor in the 68th, assisting on Donovan’s goal in the 3-2 win.
“Fabulous,” LA coach Bruce Arena said. “That’s the kind of player that Landon is, he is certainly capable of doing that. You know there were some great balls on some counter attacks; obviously the first goal was a mistake by Beltran and he had a great pass on Magee’s goal for the second goal and Magee gave him a great pass to push Landon behind for the third goal. It was a great performance by Landon and by the whole team. We hung in there, we were a little unlucky to be behind 2-0 and that had all the makings of a disaster.”
Toronto coach Paul Mariner got his first point, with the embattled Reds drawing 3-3 with Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium. Toronto’s Jeremy Hall opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Bobby Boswell equalized for Houston in the 20th, only for the visitors to take charge. Danny Koevermans had Toronto back in front two minutes later and and he doubled that lead in the 45th. Not to be outdone, Will Bruin cut the lead in half in the 73rd and equalized in stoppage time.
“We knew it would be difficult in the second half, but I’m so proud of the lads and I thought they put in a fantastic performance,” Mariner said. “A point away from home against Houston is a fantastic point.”
Colorado was in front 18 minutes into their game with San Jose from a Brian Mullan goal, and carried that lead deep into the second-half. A Rapids own-goal in the 83rd leveled the score and Chris Wondolowski’s 92nd minute goal sent all three points San Jose’s way in the 2-1 win. Seattle and Kansas City played out a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field. Jacob Peterson opened the scoring in the 8th minute for Sporting and Patrick Ianni equalized for the Sounders in the 15th. Seattle’s Alvaro Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time.
At the Home Depot Center, Chivas USA beat Montreal 2-1. the home side was up in the 14th minute when Alejandro Moreno scored. Montreal’s Felipe Martins equalized in the 42nd. Juan Pablo Angel scored the game winner in the 82nd minute. In Vancouver, the opening goal didn’t come until the 75th minute when Martin Bonjour scored for the Whitecaps against New York. The Red Bulls’ Heath Pearce equalized in the 86th to split the points in the 1-1 draw.
