Bryan Jordan and Edson Buddle picked up a goal and an assist each as the Galaxy took an early lead, only for Real to go ahead on goals from Yura Movsisyan and Will Johnson on either side of halftime.
From the start, the visitors looked to take advantage of a Galaxy team missing the linchpins of its attack in Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Just five minutes into the game, RSL's talismanic striker, Fabian Espindola, made a nice run down the right side before cutting inside and unleashing a good shot on target. The shot however lacked the placement required to beat Josh Wicks, making his first career MLS start.
Less than a minute later, RSL were back on the attack and looked to have drawn first blood. A poor clearance floated to Kyle Beckerman at the top of the Galaxy penalty area, and Beckerman hit a full volley that Espindola flicked on past Wicks.
But Espindola was in a offside position, and although referee Michael Kennedy originally allowed the goal, the Galaxy immediately protested and some 40 seconds later the goal was ruled out.
In celebrating his apparent goal, Espindola did a backflip and injured himself on the landing. He had to be replaced, and left the field on crutches at halftime.
With Espindola still on the sidelines, the Galaxy took advantage very shortly thereafter. In the ninth minute, Buddle collected the ball in midfield and ran at defender Jamison Olave, beating him with a number of stepover moves. Buddle shot to the back post, just under Nick Rimando's hand, where Bryan Jordan ran onto the ball and tapped it home.
After the goal, it was Salt Lake putting on most of the pressure again. In the 17th minute, Javier Morales received a long ball over the top of the Galaxy back line. Morales rounded a charging Wicks, but pushed his shot wide of the open net.
Two minutes later, Morales sent a free kick in from the right flank that found a wide open Nat Borchers inside the area. The center back put a powerful header on goal, but right at Wicks, who made the save.
Real Salt Lake finally leveled the score in the 21st minute. Will Johnson played an early cross to Kenny Deucher at the penalty arc, and the Scotsman flicked the ball onto the back post where Yura Movsisyan was running free. Movsisyan, who had come on for Espindola, collected the ball and tucked it past Wicks.
Even though RSL enjoyed the majority of the possession, it was the Galaxy who generated the last scoring chance of the first half. Just past the half-hour mark, Buddle found Greg Vanney pushing up from the midfield. Vanney shot from 20 yards out, but his effort skipped wide of the back post.
Seven minutes into the second half, Real took the lead. The attack came from a great 1-2 move between Johnson and Movsisyan. Johnson wound up with the ball in the box, and curled a right-footed shot past Wicks, off the inside of the right post and into the back of the net.
In the 57th minute, the Galaxy went looking for an answer. Chris Klein took a free kick from deep in the midfield and his cross made its way to Alan Gordon. But the Galaxy striker's header sailed over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
The Galaxy finally found the answer in the 69th minute. Josh Tudela received a long ball on the left flank and played a cross to the back post where Jordan collected it, beat a defender to the end line, and crossed the ball along the edge of the six. Aimed for Gordon, the ball deflected to Buddle, who got a touch to the ball, got his body squared and fired home the equalizer from close range.
Following the Galaxy goal, the game turned into a defensive stalemate as neither team generated much in the way of offense. Neither side generated a shot on goal over the final 20 minutes of the game, leaving the Galaxy still searching for the full compliment of points with Bruce Arena at the helm.
The Galaxy's next chance will come next Saturday when they take on the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium, while Real Salt Lake remain on the road, traveling to take on the New York Red Bulls.
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