Landon Donovan's impact not enough vs Real Salt Lake in loss

Landon Donovan bagged his third goal of the season with a well struck volley from the top of the penalty area in the 46th minute against Real Salt Lake on June 8. Donovan's goal brought the match level at 1-1 but two RSL goals after the 80th minute spoiled the draw for the LA Galaxy.

Donovan's goal was one of only two shots on target as the Galaxy offense sputtered again without Robbie Keane who is currently dominating matches for Ireland. Donovan finished with the top Match Impact Rating on the Galaxy in the game with a 56.5. In addition to the goal, he suffered two fouls (one drew a yellow on RSL defender Chris Wingert) while only committing one.

No other Galaxy player finished with better than a MIR of 20. The 20 rating came from defender Tommy Meyer who drew two fouls and committed none. Juninho had another game in the red at -0.75 for his three fouls committed.

The biggest story of the match again is not what happened on the pitch but what was missing from it. To say Carlo Cudicini has been a disappointment in net is a severe understatement. Of goalkeepers in MLS who have played at least 10 matches this season, Cudicini is dead last at 19th with a save percentage of 54, a full seven percent lower than Toronto FC's Joe Bendik. Of that same list, Cudicini is tied for 10th in GAA at 1.25 goals allowed per match. The veteran did not make the trip to Rio Tinto and Brian Rowe got the start in net.

Keane, as we've already mentioned, is on a tear for Ireland and has scored five goals in three matches. The captain had also scored a hat trick in his last match for LA before going to Europe.

Robbie Rogers is still working back into match fitness and has seen a mere 82 minutes of action with the Galaxy. Mike Magee, who was swapped for Rogers, still leads the Galaxy in goals at six and is already tied for the Chicago Fire lead with two goals. Magee also added a goal and an assist in the Fire's U.S. Open Cup win over the Charlotte Eagles. Last but not least, Omar Gonzalez and Todd Dunivant are missing from the backline with national team duty and injury, respectively.

The only good news is that there are no matches for the Galaxy until June 19. The side could use a mental break from the bad results.