The LA Galaxy and Tottenham Hotspur played to a 1-1 draw at The Home Depot Center Tuesday night, in a friendly match not a part of the World Football Challenge. The 25,676 fans at the stadium in Carson got a pre-season form Tottenham, and a Galaxy reserve style match. Those hoping for glimpses of the likes of Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart were rewarded, but there was little else a substance.
The Galaxy were able to equalize on a corner kick in the first half, when David Junior Lopes scored his first goal with the LA Galaxy. Brian Gaul reset the broken play on the left corner, then reversed direction over to Marcelo Sarvas. Sarvas laid it up for Hector Jimenez near the right edge of the penalty area, and Jimenez sent in a sliding cross right to Lopes who smashed it in.
In the 18', Tottenham had a real solid attack, with two long passes eventually finding their way to Gareth Bale. Gylfi Sigurdsson took the first cross, then sent it into the box with Bale was waiting. He was marked by Omar Gonzalez starting his second match since the injury, and Gonzalez didn't contest his leaping header to make it 1-0.
It was a friendly, and it played out like one. More important to the Galaxy was getting injured players and young players time in a safe environment. With Landon Donovan and David Beckham elsewhere, the match was less about star power than it was respectful entertainment. Robbie Keane was pulled after halftime, as was Brian Perk for new acquisition Brian Rowe.
Tomorrow's MLS All Star Game will likely have a similar atmosphere, though obviously on a bigger stage. Donovan has been there since Monday, but Beckham just came into town today and told reporters he will have a role in the Olympic opening ceremonies.
This means the Galaxy will likely be without Beckham for the match against FC Dallas, though it's always difficult to know with Beckham until the match day. They will be for sure be without Landon Donovan who will have to serve a one match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
For more on the Galaxy season as it progresses, check out LAG Confidential.
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