Real Salt Lake entered Wednesday as the undisputed top team in MLS and early on against the LA Galaxy they looked the part. They had the possession and a 2-0 lead thanks to early goals by Kyle Beckerman and Alvaro Saborio that had last year's Western Conference final rematch looking like a rout, but there were another 65 minutes to play. Thanks to some shoddy play by RSL, LA somehow managed to come from behind and pick up a crucial 3-2 road win for only their second two-game win streak of the season.
Real Salt Lake Vs. LA Galaxy, 2012 MLS: RSL Gives Game Away
Beckerman scored in the ninth minute and Saborio doubled the Salt Lake lead in the 24th minute. It was classic play from Salt Lake, who were in complete control. They knocked the ball around and put a shaky Galaxy defense on its heels. Meanwhile, LA lacked anything resembling an attack.
Then RSL gave LA a gift and everything changed. A horrendous backpass by Tony Beltran allowed Landon Donovan to jump on the ball, easily round Nick Rimando and the Galaxy had cut the RSL lead in half.
That was just one goal. Surely Salt Lake wouldn't make another terrible error like that, right? Wrong. Jamison Olave got caught in possession, didn't know what to do with it and froze before Donovan took it from him. He got Mike Magee, whose shot just squeezed inside the post and LA was even.
At least LA had to actually earn their third goal. Magee found Donovan in behind the RSL defense and delivered a pinpoint ball, which Donovan just got to before Rimando before sliding into the open net. The comeback was complete and the Galaxy were 3-2 winners.
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