Win is a Group Effort for Galaxy

Mike Magee and Emmanuel Boateng celebrate Magee's goal. Boateng also scored later. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Mike Magee and Emmanuel Boateng celebrate Magee’s goal. Boateng also scored later. (Photo by Duane Barker)

By Tim Peterson

(Carson) – The Galaxy overcame an early one goal deficit to score four consecutive times in the first half and went on to beat Real Salt Lake 5-2 Saturday night before a sold out StubHub Center crowd of 25,867.

Five different players scored for the Galaxy as they knocked off previously unbeaten Salt Lake.

“I think in a couple of months we’re going to be a real good team,” said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. “I think we have a good team with some good balance, with some young players and some real experienced players.”

The Galaxy could have had even more. They had a couple of golden opportunities early. Steven Gerrard had a penalty kick in the sixth minute after Giovani dos Santos was knocked down, but his shot was stopped on the left side by Nick Rimando. Dos Santos then hit the post in the 16th minute on a drive.

Real Salt Lake got on the board first when Juan Manuel Martinez scored on a header that eluded Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe and found the back of the net in the 16th minute. Four minutes later Gyasi Zardes did it all himself working his way past three Salt Lake defenders and firing it in from 20 feet out to get the Galaxy even.

Gyasi Zardes lines up the equalizing goal. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Gyasi Zardes lines up the equalizing goal. (Photo by Duane Barker)

In the 26th minute Mike Magee picked up a perfect pass from Emmanuel Boateng and sent it in. The pass was so good by Boateng that the Galaxy PA announcer initially gave him credit for the goal before correcting it.

Boateng actually got his for real in the 41st minute when he picked up a pass that missed Zardes, in front of the net but found Boateng and he booted it into the net.

In the 45th minute dos Santos lofted a well placed chip over the head of Rimando after a great play by Boateng got the ball back to dos Santos.

Giovani dos Santos gets his third goal in his last two games! (Photo by Duane Barker)

Giovani dos Santos gets his third goal in his last two games! (Photo by Duane Barker)

LA went into the half up 4-1.

Baggio Husidic got off a shot on goal in the 59th minute but Rimando made the save.

Jelle Van Damme was called for a yellow card as he knocked down Javier Morales although it appeared he got all ball. Galaxy HC Bruce Arena was livid on the sidelines as Morales blasted in the penalty kick in the 70th minute to cut the LA lead to 4-2.

Steven Gerrard finishes off the Galaxy scoring party. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Steven Gerrard finishes off the Galaxy scoring party. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Ashley Cole fired on goal but it was stopped by Rimando late in the contest.

Gerrard added a little gravy as he made a nifty move to leave a defender in his wake and punched one by Rimando in the 90th minute for the fifth and final Galaxy goal of the night.

With the victory, the Galaxy improved to 4-1-2 while Real Salt Lake fell to the same record with the loss.

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