Recap: Galaxy Fall to PR Islanders, 4-1
While the Los Angeles Galaxy had recent success on their side going
into Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions League match against Puerto Rico, but
the visitors showed they had history working for them.
Semifinalists in the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League, the Islanders
had their way with the Galaxy at Home Depot Center on Tuesday as the
visitors cruised to a 4-1 win over a pedestrian Galaxy squad.
Nicholas Addlery scored two goals for Puerto Rico in the rout. The
Galaxy, who fielded Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, almost went blank had it not been
for a late own-goal from Islander defender Richard Martinez, perhaps
giving the club a sliver of hope heading into next week’s second leg in
Puerto Rico.
Easily the team’s strength in the first portion of the year, the
Galaxy’s defense is suddenly human. The club has now failed to pick up a
shutout in the last six games in all competitions and has allowed 11
goals in that span.
Puerto Rico stunned the Galaxy with a goal midway through the first
half. David Horst powered a header
on goal off a corner kick but AJ De La Garza was on the goal line to
clear it off the line. However, David Foley stood in front of the goal
and easily knocked the rebound into the back of the net.
Addlery scored his first goal of the game in the closing stages of
the first half. He took a pass from Scott Jones and fired a shot on goal
that was too strong for Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders to handle.
Josh Hansen, who briefly plied his trade with the Galaxy before, gave
Puerto Rico a 3-0 lead in the 56th minute when he slammed a long-range
shot off the right post and into the back of the net.
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena inserted Alex Cazumba and Tristan Bowen in favor of Alan Gordon and Gregg Berhalter in hopes
of jumpstarting the offense but it did not lead to a Galaxy resurgence.
Instead, Puerto Rico scored another goal. Addlery took possession of a
turnover some 45 yards out and dribbled towards the penalty spot.
Addlery ripped a shot near the outside of the penalty area off Saunders’
hands and into the back of the net.
The Galaxy had at least one goal in them, but even that was with the
help of Puerto Rico. Buddle took control of the ball inside the penalty
area and sent a ball off Martinez and past Bill Gaudette for the
Galaxy’s lone goal of the match.
On Aug. 4, the Galaxy will play at Puerto Rico and will need at least
a three-goal victory to have a chance of advancing to the tournament
group stage.
Scoring Summary:
PR – David Foley 1 (Unassisted) 26’
PR – Nicolas
Addlery 1 (Scott Jones 1) 45’
PR – Josh Hansen 1 (Unassisted) 55’
PR
– Nicolas Addlery 2 (Unasssisted) 81’
LA – Own Goal (Richard
Martinez) 83’
Misconduct Summary:
PR – Noah Delgado (Yellow
Card) 43’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders; A.J. DeLaGarza
(Michael Stephens 39’), Leonardo, Gregg Berhalter (Tristan Bowen 64’),
Eddie Lewis; Chris Birchall, Sean Franklin, Juninho, Landon Donovan©;
Edson Buddle, Alan Gordon (Alex Cazumba 64’).
Subs Not Used:
Donovan Ricketts, Omar Gonzalez, Dema Kovalenko, Jovan Kirovski.
Puerto
Rico Islanders: Bill Gaudette; Scott Jones, Marco Velez, David Horst,
Richard Martinez; Osei Telesford, Christopher Nurse, David Foley
(Kendall Jagdeosingh 78’), Josh Hansen (Logan Emory 87’), Noah Delgado
(Kevon Villaroel 72’); Nicolas Addlery.
Subs Not Used: Cody
Laurenti, Alexis Rivera, Sandy Gbandi, Jonathan Fana.
