LA Galaxy Vancouver Whitecaps match recap

The 23 game unbeaten run at the StubHub Center for the Galaxy came to an uninspiring end as the Vancouver Whitecaps blanked LA 1-0 Saturday night.

Brian Rowe replaced the in-form Jaime Penedo in goal for LA. Oscar Sorto started once more at right back, while Baggio Husidic covered the vacant left back spot. Juninho and Mika Vayrynen paired in the middle with Ignacio Maganto and Stefan Ishizaki on the wings, while Robbie Keane and Edson Buddle earned starts up top. The Whitecaps fielded a full-strength lineup featuring Chilean playmaker Pedro Morales and Octavio Rivero as the lone forward.

Longtime Galaxy player and fan favorite Buddle was active early, firing a rocket from well outside the box that just missed the right corner of keeper David Ousted's net.

However, it was the Whitecaps who surprisingly went ahead just before halftime. 20-year old Kekuta Manneh, a speedy forward LA have had trouble containing in the past, received the ball in space after a Galaxy turnover and managed to turn Omar Gonzalez before unleashing a low laser inside Rowe's near post.

Vancouver was by no means letting up in the second half, and almost scored again when Manneh sprinted after a pass that had beat the high Galaxy back line, but Brian Rowe was quick to win the ball, and his sliding challenge resulted in the ball ricocheting off Manneh and wide of the post.

Though the Galaxy players could not be faulted for their effort, LA could not create many dangerous chances as they struggled to penetrate an organized and determined Vancouver defense. In the 59th minute, Alan Gordon came on for Edson Buddle to try and give the team a spark. A few minutes later, Stefan Ishizaki neatly cut inside Pa Modou Kah and rifled a low cross that was within reach of Gordon, but his outstretched foot just missed the ball.

In the 71st minute, a choatic series of events unfolded. First Leonardo was sucked in by Rivero, who turned and raced down the field before squaring to Pedro Morales deep inside the box, but with just a scrambling Rowe to beat, Morales slammed his shot off the post. Like a fast break in basketball, the Galaxy raced back down the Whitecap end of the field, but a dangerous long ball heading in Keane's direction was a little too far to collect.

Octavio Rivero was right to be exasperated in the 82nd minute, as he managed to race alone down the field uncontested once more, but for the 2nd straight time was unable to locate a teammate for a tap-in as substitute Darren Mattocks was behind the pass.

With time running out and Robbie Keane noticeably fatigued, the Galaxy attack sputtered as Vancouver rightfully earned all three points with the final whistle.

The Galaxy head to Columbus next week to take on former assistant coach Gregg Berhalter's Crew side.