:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47490515/usa-today-8871395.0.jpg)
What should have been another late Alan Gordon winner collapsed at the death as a Comunicaciones stoppage time equalizer doomed the Galaxy to a quarterfinal matchup vs. Santos Laguna next year in CONCACAF Champions League play.
#LAGalaxy XI: Rowe, Sorto, Meyer, Romney, Dunivant; Maganto, Vayrynen, Garcia, Mendiola; Villarreal, Buddle #SCCL pic.twitter.com/iphNViDBh3
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 22, 2015
Todd Dunivant was given the captain's armband in what will most likely be the final start of his career.
Comunicaciones almost snuck a goal in early when a sweeping long ball found Emiliano Lopez behind the Galaxy defense, but Tommy Meyer recovered in time to disrupt his shot and the attempt sliced wide.
Goalkeeper Brian Rowe had a few nervy moments as a low Communiaciones cross skidded dangerously across the box but trickled wide for a goal kick, then minutes later forward Rolando Blackburn got on the end of a Carlos Figueroa cross but Rowe managed to gather the blast.
LA had difficuilty keeping the ball on the ground and struggled in possession as Comunicaciones generally dictacted play. and several players struggled with their first touch, notably in the 25th minute when tidy combination play in the final third resulted in a dangerous opportunity only for Raul Mendiola to play the ball out of bounds.
The Galaxy almost stole one in the 38th minute. Jose Villarreal did well to separate himself from pressure before switching the field, and when the Comunicaciones defender misplayed the ball Ignacio "Nacho" Maganto raced to the top of the box before squaring for Edson Buddle only for his shot to kiss the right post before a defender gracefully cleared the ball off the line.
On the other end, the Galaxy dodged a bullet when playmaker Jose Contreras slid in Blackburn inside the box for a breakways, but Rowe did well to leap off his line early and narrow the angle, forcing Blackburn to fire wide.
The second half was more lively as both teams found their way into the game. Comunicaciones had the first real chance in the 58th as a shot outside the area forced Brian Rowe to push the ball in the air before acrobatically parrying the rebound over the bar.
Right after Baggio Husidic checked in the game for Raul Mendiola, chaos ensued in the box when a missed Brian Rowe clearance resulted in Tommy Meyer clearing the ball off the line before eventually clearing a second time out of danger.
Alan Gordon was inserted late for LA as the Galaxy chased a winner, and in the 84th minute, Gordon once again delivered what looked like the game winner. Todd Dunivant, making his first appearance since the June Barcelona friendly, found time and space on the left side of the box and fired a shot that deflected off the keeper before Gordon turned and fired into the net.
All looked good for LA until horror struck in stoppage time when the Cremas equalized at the death, propelling the Galaxy into an unwanted matchup with Liga MX side Santos Laguna in the Scotiabank Champions League quarterfinals.