Clear and Obvious: LA Galaxy robbed by incompetent officials

With Jona dos Santos and Uriel Antuna out of the lineup, the LA Galaxy fought hard Wednesday night but were ultimately robbed Wednesday night in Commerce City.

The first half was an uneasy affair for Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side. Rapids attacker and Andre Shinshiki consistently found time and space in the Galaxy final third to cause havoc and neither Joe Corona nor Servando Carrasco could manage to corral the Rookie of the Year favorite. LA had several opportunities of their own to strike first, but a lack of sharpness prevented Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company from making the breakthrough. Worryingly the Galaxy were exposed on multiple occasion right before the break.

The second half was back and forth, with Cole Bassett nodding a well-struck cross to put the Rapids ahead on a set piece before Pipa Gonzalez equalized with a header of his own. However the match has been will ultimately be overshadowed by a series of poor decisions favoring the Rapids. Late in the match Shinshiki was given a penalty and replays clearly showed he was not fouled, however Fotis Bazakos went forward with the call and the PK was converted.

LA had several chances, and in the dying moments of extra time Rolf Feltscher was kicked in the head attempting to head home from point-blank range. Incredulously Bazakos declined to issue a penalty kick for the Galaxy, and that was that.