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Cristman nets two as Revolution top Galaxy

Jul 5, 2008 - 6:08 AM CARSON, California (Ticker) -- Adam Cristman scored two goals as the New England Revolution held on for a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Friday.

Cristman opened the scoring with an unassisted tally in the 33rd minute and then doubled the advantage four minutes later with his career-high sixth goal of the season to give the Revolution a 2-0 advantage.

"They were both off set pieces," Cristman said. "The first was a good effort by Sharlrie (Joseph) to get his head on the ball and made it difficult for the keeper to save and, fortunately, I was at the back post to put it away. On the second, (Steve) Ralston served in a great ball and I was able to beat (Galaxy defender) Abel (Xavier) to the ball and finish it."

Cristman capitalized on a rebound for his first goal of the night. Joseph's header off Mauricio Castro's corner kick was saved by Steve Cronin, but the goalkeeper let the rebound roll toward the right goalpost, where an open Cristman poked it from two yards out.

After Ralston delivered a cross from the right corner, Cristman headed on the ball and sent a powerful shot into the far side. He is now tied with Ralston for the team lead in goals.

"I feel overall that we were unfortunate to lose this game," Los Angeles coach Ruud Gullit said. "In the first half, our problem was the midfield people are panicking and giving the ball away. It takes you out of your rhythm and there's no need for that."

David Beckham halved the deficit in the 66th minute as the British superstar blasted a shot from the top of the box which deflected off a New England defender before sailing past goalkeeper Matt Reis for his fifth goal of the campaign.

"In the second half, I thought we had our chances and didn't capitalize on them. That's what makes it hard - to have the opportunities and come away with a loss," Beckham said. "I think this is one of the hardest teams we've come across and it's encouraging that we came back in the second half. So that's something to build on."

With the win, New England (10-4-3) increased its lead in the Eastern Conference standings to seven points over the second-place Columbus Crew (8-4-2).

"I think we deserve to win, but we made it difficult on ourselves," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said.

Kronin made five saves for Western Conference-leading Los Angeles (6-6-3), which still holds a one-point edge over Real Salt Lake (5-6-5) and the Houston Dynamo (4-4-8).