Galaxy Tame The Rapids, Win 1-3

If the Los Angeles Galaxy were supposed to play down without David Beckham and Landon Donovan, the players sure didn't get the memo. Juninho and Chad Barrett both found the back of the net, and a Colorado own goal gave the Galaxy a 3-1 victory on the road. Conor Casey scored the loan goal for the Colorado Rapids.

In the 26' Chris Birchall sent a rolling cross to Chad Barrett, but Drew Moor's diving stop attempt deflected into the net for an own goal. Juninho, who loves to hit balls from thirty feet out, found himself with the ball, after the Rapids failed to clear it, well outside of the box and sent a screamer past Matt Pickens. Late in the match, with the Galaxy up 1-2 and Colorado down to ten men, Juninho sent a brililant forward ball to Todd Dunnivant. With just one defender between Dunnivant and Chad Barrett, Dunnivant had no problem giving Barrett the easy roller to redirect into the net.

Conor Casey was able to bring Colorado back into the match briefly, when he knocked in the rebound from an Omar Cummings miss of the left post. However, the most lasting effect this match could have on both clubs is the loss of Caleb Folan to a red card. Folan was written up for a scissor tackle on an already weak Juninho. Folan's ejection was immediate, and Juninho had to be carried off the pitch, clutching his already injured left ankle.

The Galaxy were actually on the short end of the possession stick, with Colorado holding onto the ball for 58% of the time. It was one of those rare days when Colorado gave up an early goal, and was never able to recover from the damage at did, despite seemingly outplaying the Galaxy on the day. A big problem for Colorado was their accuracy, seven of their nine shot attempts were off target; including an early header from Folan off a Nyassi corner kick.

When Galaxy president Tom Payne tweeted the starting eleven for tonight, there was a big name missing. David Beckham, fresh off a trip to London to promote the 2012 Olympics, didn't fly with the team to Colorado. This leaves the Los Angeles Galaxy without two of their star midfielders. Tonight will mark the third different captain for the Galaxy this season, as the two men who have worn the band so far this season are nowhere near the team. Juninho, fresh off his wedding in Brazil, slips into Beckham’s space from last week’s lineup. He’ll join Mike Magee, Michael Stephens, and last week’s opening goal scorer Chris Birchall.

While there will be those who chose to make a lot of noise over Beckham staying home, he’s not the first Galaxy star to get left behind this season. Landon Donovan skipped out on a three game road trip after the US National Team and MLS had him overbooked. Juan Pablo Angel missed the New England road match after a Wednesday midweek home match. Most of the vitriol comes from the perception that Beckham is missing matches due to personal commitments, but invitations from the Queen of England and Sir Alex Ferguson aren’t exactly trifles.