L.A. Galaxy 0 - Colorado 1

Kyle Martino was sent off in the 25th minute and the Los Angeles Galaxy were downed by the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. Colorado got their goal on a Herculez Gomez header in the 71st minute.
Gomez was involved in the altercation that got Martino sent off. Herculez was the victim of a hard tackle from Martino and began his usual rolling around on the ground, trying to get Martino a card. In the process, he put his spikes on Martino's leg and kicked, which caused Martino to respond by getting in Gomez's face and shoving him. Referee Baldomero Toledo instantly gave Martino a red card and Herc got off with a yellow. It was a very questionable call - Martino deserved a yellow and nothing more in my opinion. Former Galaxy star Herculez Gomez spent more time on his back than a Tijuana hooker in this match.

For the rest of the game, the Galaxy couldn't get anything going in the offensive third. They could only manage five shots on goal while Colorado had several quality chances and took 14 shots.

Eventually, the Galaxy defense let up and allowed Herculez Gomez to slip in behind them to get on the end of a Terry Cooke cross which made the game 1-0. "Once again, poor marking in the box shot us in the foot," said defender Ante Jazic. "We lost a valuable point for the future."

As has been the case in most Galaxy games this year, they waited for the last ten minutes to turn on the offense, but they couldn't get anything past Colorado 'keeper Bouna Coundoul.

The best chance to equalize came in the 83rd minute when the ball fell to Nate Jaqua's foot just inside the penalty area. He turned a drilled a hard shot at the goal, but Coundoul was there, diving to his right to make the save.

Robbie Findley also had a number of good chances after coming on in the 75th minute, but he couldn't convert any of them.

Player ratings (scale of 1-10):
Cannon 6
Sturgis 5
Harden 4
Marshall 4
Jazic 5
Jaqua 5
Harmse 6
Vagenas 4
Martino 6
Donovan 6
Quaranta 4

Subs:
C. Jones 6
Findley 3

The Galaxy fall to 1-3-2 (5 points), a single point ahead of last-place Real Salt Lake. If RSL can defeat Chicago later in the day, the Galaxy will fall to last place in the entire league. The next L.A. home game is Saturday, June 2nd, against D.C. United.

Colorado improves to 4-2-3 (15 points), one point behind FC Dallas in the West. The Rapids head to Canada on Saturday to face Toronto FC.