COMMERCE CITY — The surging Los Angeles Galaxy came to town without David Beckham, but they and the Colorado Rapids put on a great show Wednesday night without him.
In a game full of end-to-end action, exciting offensive thrusts and solid defensive stops, the undefeated Galaxy escaped with a 1-0 victory and handed the Rapids (3-3-1) their first home loss of the season.
Beckham is out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, but the Galaxy (6-0-1) featured Edson Buddle, the leading scorer in MLS with nine goals. The Rapids stymied Buddle, who had numerous scoring chances, and did not concede a goal in the run of play.
But as has happened frequently this year, the Rapids left a man wide open on a set piece, and forward Alan Gordon converted Landon Donovan’s free kick for the game’s only goal in the 21st minute.
“I think we caught them sleeping a little bit,” Gordon said. “Maybe they were looking for a shot (from Donovan), but they definitely weren’t covering me. Landon played a great ball, and I was lucky to get a good head on it.”
Buddle looked dangerous early and often, but Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens had an outstanding night. Rapids center back Julien Boudet also frustrated Buddle repeatedly.
“I told Edson, he could have had maybe nine goals today,” said Galaxy coach Bruce Arena. “He had a lot of great chances. Pickens made some pretty good saves.”
It was only the second game this season that Buddle has failed to score.
“I guess it was a game for fitness more than goals tonight,” Buddle said good-naturedly. “I’m playing with confidence now. Sometimes you think every shot you take is going to go in, but it’s not like that. Just have to take the win and be happy with it.”
The Galaxy dominated possession early, with the Rapids mounting dangerous counterattacks, but in the second half the Rapids controlled the pace and flow of the game.
“I thought they were the better team in the first half,” said Rapids coach Gary Smith. “They started like the confident team I’m sure they are. To concede from a dead ball again was a disappointment, but we had some absolutely fabulous opportunities in the first half.”
Omar Cummings, in particular, had some great counter-attacking rushes, including a one-on-one situation with Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in the eighth minute.
“To come out in the second half and dominate the way we did (showed) a lot of character from the group,” Smith said. “We created some very good chances. There were a multitude of chances that, unfortunately, we couldn’t force home.”
Los Angeles 1 0 — 1
Colorado 0 0 — 0
First half — 1, Los Angeles, Gordon 1 (Donovan), 21st minute.
Second half — None.
Goalies — Los Angeles, Donovan Ricketts; Colorado, Matt Pickens.
Yellow cards — Ballouchy, Colorado, 30th; Juninho, Los Angeles, 31st; Cummings, Colorado, 64th; Casey, Colorado, 77th; Buddle, Los Angeles, 89th.
Referee — Edvin Jurisevic. Assistant referees — Anthony Vasoli. Peter Manikowski. 4th official — Ben Chouaf.
Lineups
Los Angeles: Donovan Ricketts, A.J. DeLaGarza (Bryan Jordan, 81st), Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant, Michael Stephens, Chris Birchall, Juninho (Jovan Kirovski, 62nd), Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Alan Gordon (Clint Mathis, 71st).
Colorado: Matt Pickens, Julien Baudet, Danny Earls, Drew Moor, Marvell Wynne, Jeff Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni, Mehdi Ballouchy (Claudio Lopez, 71st), Wells Thompson (Colin Clark, 46th), Conor Casey, Omar Cummings.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
