DALLAS The Los Angeles Galaxy returned to official matches on Sunday evening with an MLS Western Conference showdown against FC Dallas. The LA Galaxy had finished their participation in the Guinness International Champions Cup midweek where they finished in fourth place in the eight team tournament.
Landon Donovan netted a Hat-Trick but that would not be enough for the Los Angeles squad to take the win as two highly controversial goals by Dallas ended the match in a 3-3 draw. Two of the three Dallas goals could have been ruled as offside.
FC Dallas took an early lead through Matt Hedges in the 14th minute of play. David Ferreira sent in a corner kick from the left side and Galaxy goalkeeper Cudicini hesitated from staying on his line and coming out to punch the ball. Andrew Jacobson took advantage of this and headed the ball down at the far post and Hedges was there to slam in the goal.
Galaxy found the equalizer moments before halftime with Landon Donovans first of three. Robbie Keane dropped into midfield to receive the ball; he looked up and sent in a pass to Donovan who beat the charging goalkeeper with his head. As the ball rolled towards the goal Donovan kept running to make sure it went in and received a strong tackle into the net by Dallas goal scorer Matt Hedges. Hedges received a yellow card for that, but could have been red.
Only two minutes into the second half Panamanian striker Blas Perez gave Dallas the lead once again after Michael sent in a 25 yard free kick cross. Perez was able to toe poke the long cross, but replays showed he was in an offside position at the moment the free kick was taken.
In the 72nd minute Landon Donovan once again tied the game for the LA Galaxy. Marcelo Sarvas chested the ball down for Donovan at the top of the 18 yard box and Donovan one timed volleyed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to make the score 2-2.
Donovan got the Hat-Trick in the 81st minute to give Galaxy the lead after a long throw into the box on the left side. After several rebounds, Donovan found the ball at his feet and put in a low curling shot into the far post of the keeper and found the side netting to give LA their first lead of the match with nine minutes to go in the game.
Four minutes later in the 85th minute Blaz Perez found his brace to draw level at 3-3. From a similar position from Dallas second goal Michael sent in a cross into the box. Replays show two FC Dallas players in an offside position at the moment the cross came in. Galaxy defenders headed the ball just outside the box where Blas Perez was waiting and slammed in a volley for the equalizing goal.
With the draw LA Galaxy fall into the fifth position (last playoff spot) of the MLS Western Conference with 34 points. But right behind them in sixth place is Seattle Sounders with 33 points and two less matches. Next up for the LA Galaxy is a home game against Real Salt Lake at home at the Stub Hub Center on Saturday.
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