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Steve Ralston (right) scored for the Revs, but David Beckham (left) and the Galaxy shined the brightest in Saturday's 2-1 victory. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
“I thought the first half, in particular, we were very bright,” said Revolution assistant coach Paul Mariner, who filled in as head coach for the suspended Steve Nicol. “Even when we went a goal down I thought we were still pushing.”
Landon Donovan put the Galaxy ahead in the 21st minute with an incredible left footed strike. The U.S. international got on the end of a poor clearance from Darius Barnes just outside the box and volleyed a left footed shot towards goal. Donovan’s shot curled over Emmanuel Osei and beat Reis inside the far post.
“Landon scores probably the goal of the season,” said Mariner. “You always look at what we could have done a little bit better, maybe cleared the ball, but when you are up against a bit of skill like that you have got to applaud it. It’s fantastic. Reis had no chance.”
“It’s always disappointing to give up the first goal,” said Barnes. “I had a clearance out; it could have been a better clearance by me, but Donovan just had an astonishing goal. It was a great goal. You have got to give him credit for that.
“We were unlucky to give such an early goal. I feel like we came out blazing. We were on fire; the energy was there, passion. We were moving the ball well and then that goal goes in and it kind of deflates you a little bit. I think we responded well. We kept playing, we kept pushing. We were a little unfortunate not to get a goal or two going into halftime.”
Jovan Kirovski doubled the Galaxy’s lead in the 52nd minute. Alan Gordon challenged Reis on a cross from Eddie Lewis and managed to get it down to Kirovski. Kirovski managed to slide in and tap it into the empty net.
Steve Ralston gave the Revolution a lifeline on an 83rd minute penalty kick. The Revolution earned the penalty when Kenny Mansally was tripped up just inside the box on a dangerous opportunity. Ralston sent it past a diving Ricketts inside the right post.
“I tried to do a stutter step to see if he would go early and he didn’t,” said Ralston. “If he’s going to stay then it’s going to be more difficult for him to get to the corner. Luckily I was able to get it wide enough.”
The Revolution switched things up a bit from the side that drew 1-1 with Toronto FC last weekend. Sainey Nyassi moved to the bench with Shalrie Joseph finally returning to the starting 11. Ralston started at right midfield for the first time all season.
“We feel that [Ralston]’s the master of the assist,” said Mariner. “You give Stevie Ralston time and space on the ball and he’ll hurt you. We thought that he could get balls in the box for Edgaras [Jankauskas] and to a certain degree it happened.”
“They told me yesterday I could be playing any of three positions, so just to be ready,” said Ralston. “When I got in here right before the game they said I was playing out wide right. It’s been a while, but I played twelve years out there and I kind of enjoyed it. I kind of liked being out there again.”
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Revolution fullback Kevin Alston (left) had his hands full with Galaxy forward Alan Gordon. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
The Galaxy had a chance to open the scoring just 30 seconds in when Lewis found Donovan unmarked in the right side of the box. Donovan took a quick shot on frame, but his effort was saved by a well positioned Reis.
After that early defensive lapse, the Revs settled in and seemed the better side in the early going of the match.
The Revs had a chance in the 9th minute, when Mansally played a nice pass behind the defense where Kheli Dube was lurking. Dube got to the ball and finished it past Donovan Ricketts, but unfortunately Mansally’s pass was just a little too late and Dube was ruled offside by the referee.
Kevin Alston had an opportunity for the Revs in the 13th minute, when he used his speed to beat Todd Dunivant to a through ball from Joseph. Alston directed a shot on frame from about 10 yards out, but Ricketts managed to make the save.
Gordon should have put the Galaxy ahead in the 14th minute when Barnes slipped while defending him in the box. Gordon got on the end of a Beckham cross about six yards from goal, but somehow sent his shot well high of the target.
Just two minutes after Donovan had given the Galaxy the lead, Mansally had a chance to equalize when a long cross found him alone in the left side of the box. Mansally attempted a volley, but his effort went just high of the target.
With the Galaxy seeing the better of the chances in the first half after taking the lead, the Revolution switched things up at halftime, bringing on Nyassi for Jankauskas. Joseph moved to forward with Ralston moving into the middle and Nyassi taking over on the right.
“We were very buoyant at halftime,” said Mariner. “The boys were very positive. We had to make the change because Edgaras is carrying a couple of injuries.”
Kirovski had a chance for his second goal of the match in the 63rd minute, when Donovan found him alone just outside the box on a quick counter attack. Kirovski hit a quick shot, but it was right at Reis.
The Revs further switched things up in the 68th minute, bringing on Pat Phelan for Osei and switching to a 3-5-2 formation.
“We went to a 3-5-2 late on when we felt that we had to push even more,” said Mariner. “We pushed Rally (Ralston) further up the field.”
The Revs further changed their look again in the 78th minute, bringing on Wells Thompson for Dube. Mansally moved up top and Thompson took over at left midfield.
The Revs had one of their best opportunities of the match in the 78th minute of a Ralston free kick. With plenty of players in the box, Ricketts dove out to punch the ball, but only managed to hit it straight up in the air. Several failed clearances led to a couple of shots for New England, but Galaxy defenders had packed the box and managed to block the attempts, despite Ricketts being out of position.
After Ralston brought the Revs back within a goal, the Revs continued to press forward, but were unable to really threaten Ricketts and the Galaxy held on for the victory.
The Revs have next weekend off before traveling to Seattle to play the Sounders on Thursday, Aug. 20. The match is set to kick off at 10 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN2.
“It’s going to be good to get the rest and make sure to give guys some rest to get back healthy,” said Barnes. “We’ll be getting back out on the training field and hit it hard. Hopefully we’ll be ready to go when we see Seattle on the 20th.”
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