When the LA Galaxy walked off the field at Pizza Hut Park nearly two hours after kickoff on Sunday night, they had done enough against FC Dallas to get a point in their back pockets. Unfortunately for the Galaxy, the teams had to walk back onto the field.
Lightning forced match official Alex Prus to suspend the match in the 83rd minute, sending both teams back to their locker rooms. After a near hour-long delay, the remaining seven-plus minutes were played out as the electric storm’s threat passed. And Brek Shea took full advantage of the re-start, scoring the match-winner in the 89th minute as the hosts grabbed a 2-1 win in a game where the Galaxy thought they had done enough to leave Texas with a result.
“Honestly we didn’t feel like we deserved to lose the match,” Galaxy assistant coach Dave Sarachan said. “I thought the initiative to make the game and come out and play was very good. The goals we conceded, the first you could argue was a foul on [Todd Dunivant] – the last was a fitting end to a weird night.”
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Travel-weary David Beckham made the start for the Galaxy some 24 hours after arriving in Dallas after having been part of the Royal Wedding festivities in London on Friday. Beckham said he felt no lingering effects from his busy travel schedule.
“I felt great,” Beckham said. “I rested, I slept, I had two really good night’s sleep before the game, so I was more than prepared for the game and felt like I played well. It was not an issue.”
Although the teams traded goals just after halftime courtesy of Fabián Castillo's looping header and Landon Donovan's goalmouth finish while crashing into the goalpost, neither team was unable to break the other down. The match had been played under a steady downpour but it was not until near the end of the game that it truly had an impact.
After match officials determined the storm no longer posed a danger, the match resumed. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena looked for a spark with the insertion of Jovan Kirovski and Chris Birchall in the places of Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel. Shea, however, ended up being the difference-maker with an improbable swerving, bending shot from the left flank.
“Obviously it was a weird game,” Donovan said. “It’s not something either team is used to playing in, that weather and then having a lengthy delay. We’re all disappointed and upset, but not really sure what to be upset about.”
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