CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy may not always play the prettiest soccer and they may not be the youngest team in Major League Soccer, but you can’t question the team’s heart.
The Galaxy erased a two-goal deficit to earn a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls on Sunday in front of a boisterous sell-out crowd at StubHub Center. Second-half substitute Mike Mageesparked the rally with a goal in the 80th minute and then nine minutes later Ashley Coleequalized to give Los Angeles a share of the spoils.
“If there’s one thing about this team, it’s that we always fight ‘til the last minute,” Cole told LAGalaxy.comafter opening his Galaxy account. “Everyone always says we have a lot of old players with me, Stevie, and Keano, but there’s one thing that you’re going to get from us, and that fight until the end.”
Los Angeles dominated the run of play for much of the first half but found themselves trailing late in the second stanza after the Red Bulls expertly exploited gaps in the Galaxy defense to build a two-goal lead. Despite their early pressure, it wasn’t until the Galaxy went to their bench to insert Baggio Husidic, Ema Boateng, and Magee that the home side was able to break through.
Magee struck first as he tapped a Steven Gerrard knockdown into the back of the net after Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella failed to make a clearance. Just nine minutes later, Cole’s equalizer came when the left back slotted a close-range shot past New York goalkeeper Luis Robles.
After the match, Galaxy boss Bruce Arena complimented his squad on the character that they showed to get a result.
“We certainly made mistakes that cost us, but I think on the night we played well. And we deserved to at least get a point out of that game,” Arena said. “I can’t be more pleased with our team and the character they showed at the end of the game to try and get back in it and get a point and maybe three points.”
The Galaxy will need every bit of the grit and heart that they showed on Sunday this week when they play two vital matches, starting with a U.S. Open Cup semifinal against FC Dallas. Just three days later, the Galaxy host the Colorado Rapids in a game with significant seeding implications in a competitive Western Conference.
Although this week will undoubtedly be difficult, Cole is confident that the group is up to the task.
“We have a good squad, and I think the players that came in today in the second half did a great job, like [Mike Magee] scoring goals and of course Baggio [Husidic] contributing,” Cole said. “So we have a big enough squad to deal with three games in a week.
“So hopefully, the players that come in can step up, and we can hopefully get to our first final.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
