The standings show the Los Angeles Galaxy and Fire are the top two teams in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. But judging from the play at times Saturday, those standings seemed hard to believe.
The Galaxy got a 90th-minute goal from Steve Jolley to finish off a frenetic final three minutes and give Los Angeles a 2-1 victory in front of a season-high crowd of 37,122 at Soldier Field. The loss was the fifth straight for the Fire (13-10).
The wild finish was in stark contrast to a rather dull first 87 minutes.
“I don’t think it was a great game from a technical standpoint,” Los Angeles coach Octavio Zambrano said. “But it was great from an emotional and physical standpoint.”
The loss put the Fire 15 points behind Los Angeles. Chicago must concern itself with surging Colorado, just eight points away in third.
The Galaxy was on the board first in the 37th minute. Martin Machon sent a free kick into the Fire penalty area that sailed over the head of forward Carlos Hermosillo. Fire defender Francis Okaroh attempted to head the ball back to goalkeeper Jorge Campos, but the ball eluded Campos and went into the net.
“As hard as we try to get the first goal, we seem to find a way to get down 1-0,” Fire coach Bob Bradley said.
Despite its high-powered offense, the Galaxy were once again stymied by the Fire defense. After allowing 13 goals in the last four games, the Fire clamped down in one of its best defensive efforts in a couple of months. The Galaxy finished with only six shots. Against Colorado Wednesday, the Galaxy scored six goals.
Los Angeles returned the own-goal favor in the 87th minute to level the match. Danny Pena, the first pick by the Fire in the expansion draft who was traded back to the Galaxy for Chris Armas and Campos, tried to clear a Zak Ibsen cross. Instead, he sent it past Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
