Alan Gordon and A.J. De La Garza in the LA Galaxy and Toronto FC played to a 2-2 draw Photo Credit: ISI Photos

Pro Soccer News: LA Galaxy and Toronto FC MLS Game ReCap

Alan Gordon returned to haunt the LA Galaxy, with two late goals, giving the visiting Toronto FC an equal share of the spoils at the Home Depot Center, Saturday night.

After a couple of scoreless games it looked like LA Galaxy had finally found how to get to goal as Chris Birchall latched on to a Miguel Lopez pass and put the home team a goal up within the first two minutes of the game.

Lopez almost put the LA Galaxy two up when his thunderous low shot beat Toronto FC keeper Stefan Frei but crashed back of the post and was cleared.

Both teams were playing well with Toronto FC midfield, especially Tony Tchani and Nick Soolsma, equaling the work rate of Los Angelinos, David Beckham and Lopez.

Before the first half ended Toronto FC head coach, Aron Winter lost two players to injury first Tchani and then Jacob Peterson. Their replacements Joao Plata and Gordon were to have a profound impact on the game.

As the second half started Toronto came out looking to tie the game. Gordon sent a message as he out jumped the LA Galaxy defense, on a corner kick, but he could not keep his header down. 

In the 68th minute Gordon’s message was received loud and clear as he again out jumped the Galaxy backline and tied the game with a powerful header from a Mikael Yourassowsky cross.

Both teams continued to press and their play from box to box was very entertaining but nobody seemed to be able to apply that finishing touch until the 91st minute when Juan Pablo Angel latched onto a loose ball in the box and hit an unsavable shot into the back of the net. 

It looked like the game was over and LA Galaxy had collected all three points but alas it was not to be as Gordon, who also played with Chivas earlier this season, still had a trick up his sleeve.

The Referee Mark Kadiecik had indicated four minutes of stoppage time to be added. Then the game changer.  Referee Kadiecik called a rather soft foul against Angel that was the beginning of the end for LA.

Angel complained but did not do anything to stop the ball being played and the long ball forward found Gordon open on the left flank. The big forward took a touch and hit a rocket that LA Galaxy keeper, Josh Saunders, did not see until it was nestled in the back of the net.

Toronto had managed to share the points in the 94th minute of the game with an unlikely strike from an unlikely source.

LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena had visions of three important points and was not happy with the end result. “Disappointing result, certainly to work as hard as we had to work in this game, give Toronto a lot of credit I thought they played real hard. We have to manage the game at the end of the game it’s quite simple. Give Alan Gordon a lot of credit, great goal at the end. We had a bunch of guys standing around we got out competed at the end of the game in that play. Give him a lot of credit he did well he took that chance well,” said Arena.

Gordon on the other hand was happy with his night and his accomplishments on the soccer field. "It was just special because I don't score goals like that. So to get it against my former team in the 94th minute, of course it was special," commented Gordon.

MLS Scoring Summary:

LA – Chris Birchall 1 (Miguel Lopez 3) 2’

TFC – Alan Gordon 3 (Danleigh Borman 3) 68’

LA – Juan Pablo Angel 3 (Unassisted) 91+

TFC – Alan Gordon 4 (Unassisted) 94+

Misconduct Summary:

TFC – Danleigh Borman (Yellow Card) 17’

LA – David Beckham (Yellow Card) 29’

TFC – Doneil Henry (Yellow Card) 57’

TFC – Alan Gordon (Yellow Card) 81’

LA – A.J. DeLaGarza (Yellow Card) 83’

Lineups:

LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders; Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant; David Beckham©, Chris Birchall, Michael Stephens (Bryan Jordan 81’), Miguel Lopez (Paolo Cardozo 81’); Chad Barrett (Mike Magee 71’), Juan Pablo Angel.

Subs Not Used: Brian Perk, Frankie Hejduk, Gregg Berhalter, Jovan Kirovski.

Toronto FC: Stefan Frei; Richard Eckersley, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Danleigh Borman; Nathan Sturgis, Tony Tschani (Joao Plata 34’), Jacob Peterson (Alan Gordon 43’); Nick Soolsma (Javier Martina 91+), Mikael Yourassowsky, Maicon Santos©.

Subs Not Used: Milos Kocic, Dan Gargan, Oscar Cordon, Gianluca Zavarise.

Referee: Mark Kadlecik, Referee’s Assistants Rob Fereday and Mike Kampmeinert, 4th Official: Yader Reyes

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