LA Galaxy forward Juan Pablo Angel (9) and Landon Donovan (10) celebrate Angel's goal during the match between LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City. Final score LA Galaxy 4, Sporting 1 - Photo Credit ISI Photos

Pro Soccer News: LA Galaxy vs. Kansas City

Despite going a goal down after 39 minutes the Los Angeles Galaxy came back with a vengeance and three second half goals to defeat the visiting Sporting Kansas City 4-1.

Although LA Galaxy had the game by the scuff of the neck it was Sporting who scored first. Milos Stojcev fired in a low, hard drive from the right flank that LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez could only redirect into the back of the net for an own goal against the run of play.

Less than five minutes later the Los Angelinos got the goal their attacking performance deserved. Roger Espinosa unceremoniously dropped David Beckham, pushing forward from his central midfield role, in the box. Referee Baldomero Toledo had no hesitation pointing to the spot for a penalty kick.

LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan stepped up to hammer the ball past KC keeper Eric Kronberg and even the game going into halftime.

The second half was barley 30 seconds old when Donovan ran onto a through ball from Chad Barrett and made no mistake in putting the LA Galaxy club in front for good.

The goal was Donovan’s second of the game and league leading seventh goal of the season.

Donovan and outside fullback, Sean Franklin were giving KC’ defense a roasting down the right flank. The only bright spark for Sporting was the running of forward Teal Bunbury but unfortunately for the visitors he had no support going forward as the LA Galaxy defense was having a comfortable second half.

With just over an hour played substitute, Juan Pablo Angel, got his name on the score sheet. Angel collected the ball from Barrett before slotting the ball under the body of the advancing Kronberg for LA’s third goal of the game.

In the 75^th minute LA Galaxywere awarded a free kick about 30 yards from goal in the left channel. Beckham stepped up to crash an unstoppable shot past the helpless KC goalie to put an emphatic exclamation point on the Galaxy’s second half performance putting the Los Angeles team up 4-1.

Although there were a ton of candidates for man of the match Head coach Bruce Arena had this to say. “ Obviously Landon (Donovan) with two goals and Angel (Juan Pablo) had great games I was impressed by the performance of Juninio, I think he was tremendous tonight but they were all good tonight it was a great team effort.” 

The Galaxy are back in action on Saturday, May 21 when they take on Chivas USA in the first leg of the SuperClasico at The Home Depot Center.

Scoring Summary:

SKC – Own Goal (Omar Gonzalez) 39’

LA – Landon Donovan 6 (Penalty Kick) 44’

LA – Landon Donovan 7 (Chad Barrett 2) 46’

LA – Juan Pablo Angel 2 (Chad Barrett 3) 64’

LA – David Beckham 1 (Unassisted) 87’

Misconduct Summary:

LA – Juninho (Yellow Card) 78’

Lineups:

LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders; Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant; David Beckham, Juninho (Michael Stephens 85’), Landon Donovan©, Mike Magee; Chad Barrett (Chris Birchall 81’), Miguel Lopez (Juan Pablo Angel 61’).

Subs Not Used: Brian Perk, Frankie Hejduk, Gregg Berhalter, Paolo Cardozo.

Sporting Kansas City: Eric Kronberg; Michael Harrington, Julio Cesar, Aurelien Collin, Roger Espinoza (Chance Myers 57’); Stephane Auvray, Milos Stojcev (Ryan Smith 65’), Davy Arnaud©; Kei Kamara (C.J. Sapong 67’), Teal Bunbury, Graham Zusi.

Subs Not Used: Jimmy Nielsen, Matt Besler, Kevin Ellis, Craig Rocastle.

Referee: Baldomero Toledo

Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson and Kevin Duliba

4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal

Related Articles: LA Galaxy

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Tony Bruce is a well known and admired soccer coach.  As a Youth, Tony Bruce played soccer in Scotland for Drumchapel Amateurs, Partick Thistle and then in England for Leeds United, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers.   As an adult, Bruce played for Los Angeles Aztecs, San Diego Jaws and in the NASL for California Sunshine.  In the ASL, Bruce played soccer for 14 years in the Greater Los Angeles professional league for San Pedro Yugoslavs, Montebello Armenians, San Pedro Croatia, L.A. Gauchos, So. Bay United, Maccabee.

 

Bruce has coached college, high school and competitive club soccer in the San Diego Orange county and Los Angeles areas.  Currently, Bruce coaches for La Jolla High, San Diego Surf Soccer as College Director and JR Academy Director and holds USSF National A, B, C, Youth, Goalkeeping licenses as well as NSCAA Level 1 GK and Brazilian National B and C as well as NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching, California State Component Coaching Licenses. Bruce is also admired for his coaching with Cal South's Olympic Development Program (ODP).