Galaxy 2 - 1 D.C. United
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Galaxy-United Preview

Jul 17, 2010 - 7:49 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (11-2-3) at D.C. (3-10-3), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy gave Landon Donovan some much-needed rest last week. They're hoping that will pay off with their first win at RFK Stadium in four seasons.

The star forward is expected to return Sunday night as the league's top team concludes its brief Eastern road trip against D.C. United.

Donovan starred for the U.S. team during its World Cup run, and that extensive playing time was what led Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena to give his star the night off on July 10 at New England.

All-Star defender Omar Gonzalez also served his one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation during the Galaxy's 2-0 loss, their second in four matches.

"We missed both (players)," forward Edson Buddle said. "The combination of both makes us better. That makes us a team. We could have used either one of those guys."

The only time Donovan has played for the Galaxy (11-2-3) in the past seven MLS games was a 3-1 victory over Seattle on July 4 in which he recorded his league-best 10th assist - on Buddle's league-leading 10th goal. Los Angeles hasn't scored in its three MLS contests without him since June 8, going 0-2-1.

The Galaxy are also 0-2-1 in their last three trips to the nation's capital with one goal in those games. The teams played to a scoreless draw in their most recent matchup Aug. 22.

When they met in the 2009 season opener, Donovan scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force a tie at the Home Depot Center, but Los Angeles is 1-2-3 against D.C. United since the start of the 2007 season.

The Galaxy recorded their previous win at Washington on Aug. 26, 2006, but have outscored their opponents 25-7 this season. D.C. United (3-10-3), meanwhile, has been outpaced 26-11.

The debuts of designated player Branko Boskovic and 23-year-old Argentine forward Pablo Hernandez on Thursday couldn't help the team in a 1-0 home loss to Seattle.

D.C. United, which has scored once during an 0-2-2 stretch, gave up the lone goal on a header with less than a minute left in regulation and was shut out for the 11th time this season.

"It's the type of thing that's hard to explain," forward Santino Quaranta said. "We're scoring in training. We're doing the right things all week. ... We have to lift our heads up and move on. We have a couple of days here to get back at it on Sunday."

While Los Angeles is winless in its past three road games. D.C. United is 1-1-1 in its past three at home after losing four of its first five.

The Galaxy hold a 15-13-6 lead in the series between two of the league's original teams.






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