Los Angeles Galaxy 1 - Philadelphia Union 0
In the 33rd minute, David Beckham lined up to take a free kick from the right side of the box, as he has done so many times before. The ball made it over the critical mass and screamed head me, a request that Leonardo was only too happy to oblige. The goal, Leonardo's first of his MLS career, put the Galaxy up 1-0 in a match that should feel familiar to Galaxy fans. The LA soccer club has completely dominated possession, but has very little to show for it. For all the time they've spent with the ball, they've only managed three shots on goal. Lucky for the Galaxy, the Union haven't shown themselves capable of that goal against the run of play, which so often haunts the LA club.
The other two shots on goal for LA came off the foot of David Beckham. In the 35 minute, David Beckham found the ball rolling toward him on the left corner of the box. His strike was reactionary more than planned, and the ball rolled right to Faryd Mondragon, who bobbled it but was able to bring it in without issue. The second strike came in the 43 minute. With a free kick set up near the corner flag, David tried to bend one in over the keepers head, but again Mondragon anticipated correctly.
Faryd Mondragon has been anchoring Philadelphia’s defense, with those two saves but also just in keeping his back four in shape. It’s been slim pickings so far, but hopefully things will open up in the second half.