IN TOO DEEP Revs fall to Galaxy, 2-1
by Brian O'Connell
Steve Ralston’s penalty kick was all the Revs offense could muster against LA. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – David Beckham and the streaking LA Galaxy invaded Foxboro on Saturday night, drawing a season-high 26,523 to Gillette Stadium and then dashing their hopes with a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. It was New England’s first home loss to the Galaxy since July 11, 1999.
Landon Donovan opened the account in the 21st minute, and Jovan Kirovski doubled L.A.’s lead in the 52nd minute. Steve Ralston spoiled goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts’ shutout bid with an 83rd minute penalty kick.
“We’re always looking to see what we could’ve done better,” said Revolution assistant coach Paul Mariner, manning the bench while head coach Steve Nicol serves a two-match disciplinary suspension. “But the boys played fantastically well. We just didn’t get a break when we needed it.”
The Galaxy received an early break immediately after the whistle, when Eddie Lewis served it across to an unmarked Donovan, who whipped a powerful header that keeper Matt Reis captured in the opening seconds of regulation.
New England countered minutes later when Kenny Mansally streaked into the midfield and found Kheli Dube, who raced ahead and took the pass in the tenth minute. But the Zimbabwean mistimed his run and was called offside by the assistant referee.
“We’ve been pushing all night,” said Mariner. “But we stayed buoyant enough to stay with them most of the night.”
Leading the Revolution push was right back Kevin Alston, who nearly poked one through when he took a pass from Shalrie Joseph and beat defender Todd Dunivant before Ricketts raced forward and smothered the ball.
Despite the early glimpses, L.A. began to control the match near twenty minutes. Lewis incited a collective gasp from the hearty home crowd when he drove a shot that Reis leaped to push over the bar on the 18th minute.
With the Revolution doing their best to withstand the a sudden Galaxy attack, Emmanuel Osei, stationed deep in his end, sent a lackadaisical clear straight to Donovan. The National Team midfielder curled a left-footed volley past Reis in the 21st minute.
“My initial thought was to shoot,” said Donovan. “My second thought was to bring it down - but I just thought to take a swing at it. At that point I was just trying to make good contact and I hit perfect.”
New England nearly replied in the 24th minute, when Dube penetrated the offensive third, then deferred to Mansally, who got hold of one that Ricketts lifted over the bar at the last moment to preserve the early lead.
The Los Angeles surge continued through thirty minutes, as the New England backs found their hands full with Donovan, Kirovski and Alan Gordon.
Although the New England midfield began to pick up the slack, the Revolution’s chances were limited, as shot after shot sailed well off frame.
“We tried to change things at the half,” said Mariner. “We tried to send our fullbacks up, but we didn’t want to give them too much defensively.”
Entering the second half, the Galaxy played with increasing confidence. In 52nd minute, Lewis sent a cross into the area, where Kirovski corralled it, turned and fired it through to cushion the Los Angeles lead.
Hungry for another, the Galaxy continued to press. Kirovski, in a bid for his second goal of the match, charged into the box, where he took a pass from Lewis and pushed it right toward Reis in the 65th minute.
“We kind of lost our heads,” said Ralston. “We were just going all over the place instead of passing and holding the ball.”
Despite their form, a beacon of hope arrived in the 78th minute, when Ralston launched a free kick near the box that Ricketts jumped ahead to secure. But the keeper misjudged his attempted punch, as he pummeled teammates and opponents alike, while Joseph, who put a foot on the ball, failed to put it in.
But with less than ten minutes remaining, Mansally crashed the box and was immediately brought down by a Galaxy defender. With little argument from the Los Angeles bench, referee Jorge Gonzalez immediately pointed to the spot in the 82nd minute.
Moments later, Ralston, the steely vet, coolly sent a hard, low shot to the left of Ricketts, whose dive was in vain.
“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.”
Beckham’s largely ineffectual night concluded minutes later before a host of cheers and flashbulbs, as he was replaced by Chris Birchall in the 87th minute.
With business unfinished, the Revolution engines reignited late when a pair of chances materialized in front of Ricketts. But it was all for naught, as New England failed to find the equalizer they frantically searched for.
“We were delighted with the players’ efforts, especially in the second half,” said Mariner. “But you just can’t give a team like L.A. a two-goal start.”
