Galaxy Defeats Rapids 2-1
COMMERCE, Colo. (AP) - Landon Donovan scored in the 39th minute and goalkeeper Josh Saunders stopped a penalty kick in added time as the Los Angeles Galaxy earned their first road win, a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.
Saunders made a diving save on a penalty kick by Omar Cummings to preserve the win.
"I don't know the odds of a goalkeeper making the save on a penalty kick and really don't have a lot of options of what I can read," Saunders said. "All I can really do is read body language.
David Beckham played after being questionable with back spasm for Los Angeles (3-3-0), winners of two straight. Beckham has never had a goal or an assist in five career games against the Rapids.
"We did a nice job as a team of delaying the kick," said Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena, who questioned the penalty call. "And then Josh came up big at the end of the game."
"It was a poor call,' Arena said of the penalty call. "We're thankful we survived it."
Cummings scored in the 63rd minute for Colorado (3-4-0) which suffered its third straight defeat.
Cummings ended a scoreless streak of 243 minutes. Colorado's last goal came when Kamani Hill scored on April 1 against Chicago.
"It was another hard loss to take," Colorado coach Pareja said. "They played with a lot of pride in the second half."
The Rapids have lost their last three meetings with Los Angeles at home and were swept by the Galaxy last year.
Beckham nearly had a goal and an assist in the first 13 minutes. Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens made a diving save of Beckham's free kick in the 12th minute and a minute later had a corner kick get past two teammates stationed in front of the goal.
Los Angeles got on board with 21st minute. Rapids defender Marvell Wynne knocked Mike Magee's header into his own net.
"The key was keeping things tight the first 15 minutes," Beckham said. "We felt that we would create good chances and getting the first goal always settles a team down and it did that tonight."
LINK: Game Stats
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