This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Realistically, Landon Donovan said, the Los Angeles Galaxy could have scored six or seven goals last night.And he's right.But the fact is that they did not, and instead RSL is celebrating its third straight season-opening victory this morning and waiting to see how the New York Red Bulls fare against FC Dallas later today before coming to visit Rio Tinto Stadium for the home opener on Saturday."I felt like we were the team that was really controlling the tempo of the match," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "I know that L.A. had some fantastic chances to score — they hit the bar, and then they did score. But really I felt like we were the team that was controlling the tempo, so I am very pleased with everybody's contribution not just the guys that came on in the last thirty to win the game for us." The 3-1 victory for RSL snapped the Galaxy's regular-season home unbeaten streak at 18 games. Ignited by an own-goal by the Galaxy's Sean Franklin, RSL scored three goals in 12 minutes to rally on the road against the defending champions just minutes after falling behind on an Edson Buddle header. That was even more encouraging considering its short-handed lineup, and the fact that RSL was 0-8-2 last season when allowing the first goal."The ball had some spin on it, it kind of dipped before I tried to get a foot on it," Franklin explained. "It's unfortunate. But that's what coaches say, to play the ball. But it's a lot harder on a wet surface, and that what I did and I just didn't clear it right. I thought [RSL's Fabian Espindola] was coming in, so I tried to beat him to the ball and I just happened to catch the wrong side of the ball."Coach Bruce Arena took the blame for the Galaxy, saying he should have used fresher players after the regulars played a tough CONCACAF Champions League game at Toronto FC last Wednesday.But his players came to his defense."It's not down to the coach once the players are on the field," midfielder David Beckham said. "He picked the team that he feels is a strong team and is ready to play and then it's down to the players. It's down to us collectively."