TUCSON, Ariz. – Playing their first preseason game of the year outside Southern California, the LA Galaxy fell 3-2 to the New England Revolution on Wednesday night in the first game of the Desert Diamond Cup. Edson Buddle and Mike Magee scored for the Galaxy but a second half goal from New England’s Jeremiah White broke a 2-2 tie and gave New England a win in the first game of the day at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Revolution wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with Benny Feilhaber beating Josh Saunders with a bicycle kick from close range to give his team a 1-0 win in the second minute. Kelyn Rowe sent a cross into the box from the right wing and the Galaxy defense was unable to cleanly clear the ball away, allowing Feilhaber the opportunity to put his team in front.
WATCH: Full Match Highlights
The Galaxy settled in following the early goal and began to create opportunities at the other end of the field with Mike Magee, who was making his first appearance in a preseason game since February 3 and Edson Buddle each going close.
Saunders helped keep the score 1-0 in the 18th minute when he tipped a Saer Sene shot onto the crossbar before LA were able to equalize in the 31st minute. David Beckham was the creator for that goal, sending his second chance cross to the far post for Buddle, who rose above his marker to power a header past Matt Reis and tie the score at 1-1. That was Buddle’s first goal of the preseason and his first against an MLS opponent since the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs.
READ: Buddle does what Buddle does best: score goals
The score would remain level for just five minutes before the Revolution pulled back in front when Colombian defender John Lozano attacked a Rowe corner kick and directed his header off the post and in, past Saunders for a 2-1 New England advantage.
After the goal, the Galaxy pushed forward immediately to get an equalizer before halftime and that effort was rewarded in the 39th minute when Magee scored his first of the preseason. His long range shot deflected off New England defender Darrius Barnes and left Matt Reis stranded, tying the score at 2-2 going into the break.
Postgame with Arena, Buddle, Beckham
At halftime, Juninho came on for his first appearance of the preseason and almost put his team in front with a trademark long range effort, only to see his shot go just over the cross bar at the hour mark.
In the 74th minute, the Revolution pulled back in front for a third and final time when Alec Purdie, just seconds after coming into the game, played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jeremiah White, who got in behind the LA defense and slid a shot under Saunders to give New England a 3-2 victory.
The Galaxy will train on Thursday and Friday before returning to action on Saturday evening when they take on Real Salt Lake. That game kicks off at 5 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live online at www.lagalaxy.com/gamedaylive where fans will be able to chat and interact with one another during the game.
LA Galaxy 2, New England Revolution 3
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium – Tucson, Ariz.
Scoring Summary:
NE – Benny Feilhaber (Unassisted) 2’
LA – Edson Buddle (David Beckham) 31’
NE – John Lozano (Kelyn Rowe) 36’
LA – Mike Magee (Unassisted) 39’
NE – Jeremiah White (Alec Purdie) 74’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Marcelo Sarvas (Yellow Card) 24’
Lineup:
LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders; Dan Keat, Tommy Meyer, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant; Pat Noonan (Hector Jimenez 57’), Marcelo Sarvas, David Beckham (c), Mike Magee (Paolo Cardozo 46’); Adam Cristman (Juninho 46’), Edson Buddle (Jack McBean 79’).
Subs: Nick Noble, Bryan Gaul, Andrew Boyens, J.T. Murray, Kenney Walker, Rafael Garcia.
New England: Matt Reis (Bobby Shuttleworth 46), Chris Tierney (Tyler Polak 76), John Lozano (Florian Lechner 46, Ryan Kinne 76), Stephen McCarthy (Gabe Mercier 76), Darrius Barnes, Benny Feilhaber (Diego Fagundez 74), Clyde Simms (Luiscito Campisi 46, Fernando Cardenas 79), Shalrie Joseph, Kelyn Rowe (Alec Purdie 74), Blake Brettschneider (Jeremiah White 46, Michael Roach 79), Saer Sène (Bjorn Runstrom 46, Zack Schilawski 79)
Substitutes Not Used: Tim Murray, Ryan Guy, Tom Cruise, Rick Smith
