Recap: San Jose Earthquakes 0, LA. Galaxy 3
June. 18, 2008
The first time they faced Los Angeles , in April, the Earthquakes couldn't handle David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Saturday, it was little-known Edson Buddle.
Buddle scored three goals as the Galaxy defeated San Jose 3-0 before 39,872 fans at McAfee Coliseum. The attendance was the largest ever for a Quakes home game. The hat trick was Buddle's second this season - not bad for a player out of State Fair Community College in Sedalia , Mo.
Buddle's performance spoiled what was a highly anticipated match, considering it was Beckham's first Bay Area appearance. Instead, it turned out to be the last-place Quakes' sixth shutout this season.
"It was unacceptable," said Quakes defender Nick Garcia, who didn't play because of strained knee ligament. "Throughout the game we weren't playing good soccer."
Buddle, who has started eight of Los Angeles ' 12 matches this season, scored three impressive goals. He now has eight this season, trailing only teammate Landon Donovan (nine) for the Major League Soccer lead. Buddle started Saturday because Donovan and fellow forward Carlos Ruiz were away for World Cup qualifiers.
"The chances were there all night, and we were able to capitalize," Buddle said.
He almost scored his fourth goal in the 85th minute while dribbling on the right side. But his delivery fell just wide of the far post. "I was given three goals tonight, so I can't complain," he said.
San Jose , however, had plenty to ponder after falling to 3-7-1. The team looked lethargic in the first half as it missed Garcia and three other starters. Forward Kei Kamara and midfielder Ivan Guerrero were with their national teams, and defender James Riley was out because of a suspension. Adam Smarte, a UC-Santa Cruz star a year ago, started his first MLS game in place of Riley.
Los Angeles ' first goal came in the sixth minute, with Beckham looping a pass in for Josh Tudela, who had set up in the center of the box. Tudela headed the pass backward, and an unmarked Buddle blew the ball past goalkeeper Joe Cannon and inside the far post.
San Jose almost found itself in a disastrous position in the 19th minute when Buddle passed to Ely Allen, who was open 10 yards off the net. Allen's shot ricocheted off the near post, and the Quakes recovered. Buddle was at it again, though, finding space on the left sideline. But as he charged toward the goal, defender Ryan Cochrane knocked the ball out of bounds.
"We were tentative," Quakes Coach Frank Yallop said. "We don't settle quickly in this stadium."
The Quakes had their chances in the first half. Ryan Johnson took a clean shot on goal but goalie Steve Cronin, one of four former Santa Clara University players who started Saturday night, fell on the ball. Later, John Cunliffe created an opening but his left-footed shot went sideways.
"John should have made it," Yallop said. "It could have been 1-1," which would have changed the game's complexion.
Instead, Buddle and the Galaxy came together in the second half. Buddle put the match out of reach in the 63rd minute. The goal was set up by Allen, who passed to Ante Jazic on the left side. Jazic's cross hit Buddle in the box, and the forward redirected it with a header to the far post. Four minutes later, he took Mike Randolph's service to the near post with another header.
"We couldn't figure the game out tonight," Yallop said.
New York Red Bulls waive F John Wolyniec (PA SportsTicker) Thierry Henry is officially on the New York Red Bulls' roster. Donovan reiterates desire to return to Everton (PA SportsTicker) Landon Donovan says he still wants to return to Everton and the English Premier League. MLS Injury Report - Friday, July 30 (PA SportsTicker) EASTERN CONFERENCE Manchester United routs MLS All-Stars (AP) Javier Hernandez scored on his Manchester United debut as a youthful Red Devils team put in an impressive performance to beat the Major League Soccer All-Stars 5-2 in a friendly on Wednesday. Federico Macheda had two early goals while Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley also found the net for the Premier League side.
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The Galaxy opened their stadium, the Home Depot Center on June 7. But in order for their home to be ready, the team had to play a record 8 games to start the season and failed to win a game. In fact, the Galaxy finish the season without a win away from home the whole season. After the season's final game, the Galaxy had the final playoff spot in the West. In their aggregate series with the Earthquakes, they seemed well on to vindication for the MLS Cup loss 2 years earlier as they held 4 goals to 0 lead midway through the 2 nd game. A thing happened as the Earthquakes scored four unanswered goals to force a tiebreaker. In that session, the Earthquakes' Rodrigo Farina score to send the Quakes onto the next round.
In 2004 Looking to return to the top, the Galaxy would go through a mediocre 1 st half of the season before 3 straight wins over the summer. But from July 14 on, the Galaxy won only 2 more games, one in September and one in October. The Galaxy had a record of 11-9-10, good enough for 2nd in the West and the playoff, remaining the only club in MLS to have a playoff spot in every year of league in the playoffs, the Galaxy withstood an early challenge from the Rapids to win the aggregate goal series, 2-1, scoring 2 times in Game 2. In the conference final, the Galaxy's season would come to an end in Kansas with a 2-0 loss to Arnaud and the Wizards.
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