WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 22, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- The Crew and Galaxy hit each other up for three goals a piece and DC wins the first leg of their Sunday series. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake make the weekend's major statement.
Columbus 3 - Los Angeles 3
Playing with Landon Donovan but without Carlos Ruiz, the Galaxy were unable to hold off Columbus who twice got second half equalizers to split the points.
"I think it's a pity that we that we threw two points away," LA coach Ruud Gullit said. "I think we worked very hard to get a good score -- two-nil. And then in a short period, we gave it away. We had a lot of chances to finish it off, but also compliment to Columbus -- they worked very hard to get back into the game and they did."
Landon Donovan got LA's first goal in the 10th, with Edson Buddle adding to last week's hat tirck with the second goal in the 47th. Brad Evans got the Crew's first goal in the 67th, Guillermo Barros Schelotto made it even in the 71st from the penalty spot. Donovan converted a Galaxy penalty twelve minutes later. that lead held for five minutes before Steven Lenhart equalized in the 88th.
"We know we are going to get chances," Columbus coach Sigi Schmid said. "We felt we needed to keep them off the board, which we didn't do well enough today. When I look at the PK and I look at the other one, they also had some other good chances and a couple of good looks which they missed the opportunity."
LA scored on three of their four shots, with LA keeper Steve Cronin making four saves.
"It feels like it was a loss," LA midfielder David Beckham said. "We were in front 2-0. We need to learn how to finish games off. We were ahead 1-0 at halftime when we felt like we should have had three or four. Overall, we are disappointed to draw a game at home. It is a point and we will move forward but we are disappointed with it."
New England 1 - Salt Lake 2
The Revolution scored three of the four goals, in a game where Real Salt Lake had more of the offense.
"I believed for a long time, and I think everybody in that locker room believed and has believed for a long time," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "I think we're beginning to see the fruit from all of our work and talk. I think tonight we saw an improved team in a couple of areas."
Adam Cristman got the opener in the 8th minute before a Jay Heaps own goal made it level three minutes later. Salt Lake's Tino Nunez got the winner unassisted in the 60th.
"My eyes just opened up really big," Nunez said after scoring his first goal. "I didn't know what to do. I'll think about it more next time."
Houston 0 - Colorado 0
A total of three shots on goal from 24 combined shots with Houston holding the advantage told the story of a game minus any real excitement. Well, except for Colorado being unable to convert from ten corners.
"We played well as a team, we limited their opportunities, we had great chances, it was unlucky at the end when it hit the post," Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni said. "But all in all, it was a good game."
"Anytime you get a point or points, I think you're happy," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "But we're still trying to get our full squad together, which is important, but everyone goes through these phases of injuries and call-ups."
There was an 18 minute stoppage in the 2nd half due to lightening.
Dallas 0 - New York 1
Red Bull NY dominated the attack without Juan Pablo Angel or Claudio Reyna, putting seven of their twelve shots on frame and winning seven corners.
"We wanted to try to do the same thing as we did against Columbus here, against a team that has different midfielders who are capable of creative goals," RBNY coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "We needed to be able to stay close to them and prevent them from playing freely and I think the team did very well in that regard."
For new Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, the problem was obvious: "We didn't have enough scoring chances," he said. "I think Dominic (Oduro) had one and Andre (Rocha) had one where he broke away and hit the keeper with it. We didn't get enough chances and that's something we have to work on."
Kansas City 0 - Toronto 0
FC doesn't lose at home, and that held against a Wizards squad trying to start a run on the road. Toronto thought they had scored and answered an offside call by challenging the official and eventually getting a few seconds a man up when Kansas City's Roger Espinoza was sent off.
Toronto's gripe aside, the Wizards had the advantage on shots, shots on goal, and corners.
"I have to be honest, I'm grateful for a point," Toronto coach John Carver said. "I'm grateful of a point because that might be the difference between getting into that playoff spot, and just missing out. It's games like that when you have to dig out a result. We've dug out a result here today because 15 minutes from the end I thought there was only going to be one team that wins it and it wasn't going to be us."
"We created enough chances to win the game," KC coach Curt Onalfo said. "We came into a very difficult place to play and I thought for a good portion we dictated the pace of the game. Disappointed we didn't get 3 points today but happy with getting a point in a very difficult place to play."
San Jose 1 - DC United 3
DC and San Jose traded goals in the 50th and 51st, but Gonzalo Martinez gave United the lead in the 55th. Luciano Emilio closed out the scoring in the 88th, five minutes after San Jose lost James Riley to a straight red.
