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LA Galaxy draw Sporting Kansas City 1-1

By Mike Gray
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

This 2016 Galaxy team keeps on getting results.

Despite being throughly outplayed, a moment of magic from Giovani dos Santos overcame a mixed performance including an Ashley Cole red card as the LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City Sunday traded goals Sunday night at a thunderous Children's Mercy Park.

Sporting KC outclassed LA in the opening half, dominating possession on their spacious home field and preventing the Galaxy from getting into any kind of rhythm.

After a few close calls, Sporting took a deserved lead when a Matt Besler long ball was headed by Graham Zusi into the path of Brad Davis, and after cutting inside Jelle Van Damme, Davis launched a textbook curling shot into the side netting that Rowe had no chance of stopping.

Despite Sporting's dominance, LA stayed in the match, and when the opportunity presented itself, the Galaxy pounced: A SKC turnover escalated into a lightning-quick counterattack when Gyasi Zardes stormed up the field and evaded two defenders before playing dos Santos into space. Cool as a cucumber, Gio scooped a finish over goalkeeper Tim Meija to level the match.

Moments later, Feilhaber found space inside the Galaxy box before firing a rocket over the net. Right before the half, Ike Opara had an opportunity from point-blank range, but Rowe did brilliantly to throw his body at Opara's attempt and distract the defender just enough to slice his spot wide. Rowe was briefly shaken up on the play but stayed in the match.

Both teams fought hard in the second half, but chances were hard to come by. In the 68th minute Boateng scampered to the endline before squaring for Zardes, but he could only manage to toe-poke the ball wide.

The game turned on its head with 20 minutes left to go when Ashley Cole was given yellow cards in quick succession, but LA held on to preserve the road point.

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