It had to end sometime, yet the circumstances of the 3-1 loss that ended the Galaxy’s 26-match unbeaten run at home (in all competitions) included fatigue and a few decisive bounces of the ball.Two Galaxy shots came back off the crossbar and an own goal by defender Sean Franklin tied the game just minutes after Edson Buddle’s header provided a 1-0 lead. Atiring Galaxy defense then conceded two more in the final minutes to hand LA its first home loss since a Western Conference finals defeat to Dallas in November, 2010.
“To go on a runlike that when you’re unbeaten at home for that long, you have to have some things go your way,” Landon Donovan said. “Tonight, some things just went against us.These first few games are about recovery and getting ready to go. We have to get whatever rest we can and get ready.”
The Galaxy opened the league season three days after a trip toToronto and a 2-2 tie in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions’ League. It rallied after falling behind, 2-0, and the effect that effort sapped its energy in the final minutes
“I think we all felt good going into the game, but the fatigue of playing a hard game on turf and then traveling back took its toll,” David Beckham said. “Ithought we had quite a few chances to win it, but there were a few mistakes. We’ll be OK.”