Saturday's Galaxy match versus New York Red Bulls was the beginning of what will arguably be the toughest part of their schedule this season. The blue-and-gold have embarked on their longest road trip of the year and will not play in the friendly confines of the Home Depot Center until August 21 when the Chicago Fire pay a visit. The timing could not be any worse for the Galaxy. Notoriously bad on the road, the team has also failed to win in over a month and slipped to second place in the conference standings with 2 conference rivals nipping at their heels. They will need to find a way to win on the road or else they might find themselves doing some last minute scrambling to desperately try to make the playoffs.

But not all is grim for the blue-and-gold. While the team has not won in over a month, only 2 losses were registered in that time period. More importantly, much needed defensive help is waiting in the wings, just in time for the road trip.

New York came into Saturday's match with its own share of problems, beginning with the fact that they are sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference. Coincidentally, the Red Bulls last win also came nearly a month ago, but unlike the Galaxy, the Red Bulls lost their last 3 matches leading up to their clash with the Galaxy.

Both teams were under pressure to get a win Saturday, raising expectations for the game, with some hoping it would be a repeat of the wild 5 - 4 match last year.

Playing in front of 46,754 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Galaxy clearly hoped to overwhelm the Red Bulls with offensive power, featuring forwards Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle in the starting lineup. As has been customary for many games this season, the Galaxy got off to a slow start, allowing the Red Bulls to get the better of the game for the first quarter of an hour. The Galaxy midfield often struggled to complete passes and regularly gave up possession of the ball. The midfield play was sloppy and disorganized, pinning the team in their own defensive half, and effectively nullifying the Ruiz, Donovan and Buddle combo up front.

Shortly before the 20th minute, things seemed to start to click for the Galaxy and the team began to generate some offensive opportunities. Ruiz almost opened the scoring after receiving a great pass from Donovan which left him one-on-one with Red Bulls 'keeper Jon Conway. However, Ruiz squandered the opportunity and the score remained tied at zero.

As the half hour mark approached, Galaxy midfielder David Beckham made a great 30 yard pass to Buddle who was making a run down the left wing. Buddle then quickly made his way into the New York penalty box where he found himself needing only to beat one defender and the Red Bulls 'keeper to score. Buddle made a great move to beat his defender then sent a ball across the face of the goal as Conway came out to challenge. Ruiz had joined the play and managed to head the ball towards goal. This time, Ruiz would not disappoint, giving the Galaxy a 1 - 0 lead.

New York battled back, seeming determined to tie the score before halftime. Their efforts would prove worthy a mere 5 minutes later when Red Bulls midfielder Dave van den Bergh combined with MLS new comer, Jorge Rojas to setup a shot from about 25 yards out which beat Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin. Unfortunately for the Galaxy, the opportunity was created as a result of sloppy defensive work and had to settle for a 1 - 1 tie at the break.

The game was flowing from end to end from the onset of the second half.

The blue-and-gold came out to attack and produced some quality chances from early on. At the 47th minute, Galaxy defender Ante Jazic broke in on the left wing and sent a pass through to the top of the New York penalty box. Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas took a hard shot, but was off target. Only 4 minutes later, Ruiz received a great pass in the penalty box from Galaxy defender Chris Klein. Ruiz fought off the Red Bulls defensive pressure to create some space for himself and then took a hard shot on goal. Conway was up to the challenge and made a save to keep the score even at one.

While the Galaxy was threatening, New York also had their fair share of chances to break the tie. At the 55th minute, Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin made a great save on a hard shot into goal from just outside the penalty box. Only three minutes later, Cronin was completely beat and out of position with the ball crossing the 6 yard box and multiple Red Bulls looming. Jorge Rojas would get a boot on it, but somehow managed to completely miss the goal and instead sent the ball into the stands. At the 69th minute, Red Bulls' forward Juan Pablo Angel got a head onto a cross from Dave van den Bergh, but Cronin made a nice save kept the score levelled.

It was the type of game was calling for a big name to make his presence known. Angel was happy to oblige.

Jorge Rojas found Angel streaking down the left wing and Angel did the rest. He took the ball into the Galaxy penalty box and put a move on Galaxy defender Greg Vanney that appeared to have paralyzed him. With Vanney's feet cemented to the field, Angel found himself on a one-on-one against Cronin. He then cooly chipped the ball over Cronin, giving the home side the lead with only 20 minutes left in the game.

As the minutes ticked by, both teams failed to capitalize on superb scoring opportunities. Angel was denied at the goal line by the Galaxy defense only 3 minutes after his go ahead goal. At the other end, Ruiz took advantage of a New York defensive miscue at the 78th minute and took a good, hard shot on goal but 'keeper Conway made a great save. Despite Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit putting in another forward at the 78th minute, it seemed as though the game would end with a 2 - 1 scoreline.

However,it would be the Galaxy's turn to play the spoiler role this time around.

As the first minute of injury time elapsed, Landon Donovan picked up a ball just outside the Red Bulls penalty box. The New York defense backed off a bit to cover all the Galaxy forwards Gullit had put into play. Donovan sent in a ball towards goal and the Galaxy offensive lines moved forward in an attempt to redirect it into goal. All the action in front of the goal seemed to confuse the Red Bulls and although Edson Buddle failed to connect, the ball sailed past him and into the goal.

In the final secons of injury time, Beckham would send a ball across the Red Bulls penalty box. Galaxy forward Alan Gordon just missed the ball, but Donovan once again pounced on it. Donovan took a hard, low shot that beat the goalie, but were it not for an inch or two too much to the left, it would have hit the upright and deflected in. Instead, it hit the upright and bounced out. Close, but close doesn't count, except in horseshoes and grenades. The final score: 2 - 2.

Overall, the Galaxy looked a bit better than they have in the last 4 games, except for the first 20 minutes. Still no win in 5 games, but it seems the team is progressing. With the new defensive help in place, they could be set to turn the corner and really start making a run in the second half of the season.

Highlights available here.

Sidenote: No official press release from the Galaxy yet, but several sources are reporting that veteran Galaxy defender Abel Xavier has been waived by the team. This could be further indication that additional signings are pending.

Photo by a4gpa via Flickr