LA Galaxy at Real Salt Lake match recap

LA earned an unsatisfying point on the road as Nick Rimando saved a Juninho penalty kick in stoppage time to preserve a 0-0 tie at a wet and rainy Rio Tinto Stadium Wednesday night.

Kickoff was delayed by over an hour due to lightning in the area, and even though the perfectly manicured turf held up superbly against the conditions, the slick surface disrupted the rhythm of both teams as the ball had a tendency to skid on the feet of the players.

In what has become the norm for the Galaxy this season, LA made changes to the starting lineup, inserting Dan Gargan in place of Robbie Rogers, Baggio Husidic and Rafael Garcia pairing in the central midfield, Bradford Jamieson IV on the left wing and Alan Gordon and Gyasi Zardes at the forward spots. With playmaker Javier Morales out with concussion symptoms, Real Salt Lake came out in their classic 4-4-2 diamond formation as Luis Gil replaced Morales in the attacking role.

LA struggled to adjust to the field, with the conditions exemplified by Alan Gordon slipping twice in consecutive fashion early on. Costa Rican international Alvaro Saborio was constantly testing the high Galaxy back line but was unable to beat the offsides trap.

20-year old homegrown player Jordan Allen was RSL's brightest weapon, shielding a bouncing ball outside the box before turning and firing a blast that required Penedo's full concentration to collect. Right before the half Stefan Ishizaki whipped in a cross to a wide open Gyasi Zardes who really should have finished but his near-post header leaving Rimando stranded was just wide.

The action began to head up after the break. In the 53rd minute, Jamie Penedo had to push away a Luke Mulholland shot, then Kyle Beckerman floated a far post cross that located Devon Sandoval, but his weak header went straight to Penedo. 

Alan Gordon was dominant in the air and created several opportunities from wide service, namely in the 67th minute when Gordon forced Rimando to acutely tip a header over the bar. Real Salt Lake had their chances as well, but with six saves, Jamie Penedo was up to the task -- first diving low to make a big save on Devon Sandoval, then standing on his feet to deny a deflected Saborio shot from close range.

Just when you though the game was going to come to a sleepy conclusion, Omar Gonzalez was pulled down in the area by Jamison Olave, however Rimando correctly dove to his left to deny Juninho.

The Galaxy escaped at the death when RSL raced down the field and a wild sequence concluded with Jamison Olave pulling a low shot inched from the far post, much to the relief of Jaime Penedo.

LA next plays FC Dallas this weekend.