Galaxy fall on PKs in Beckham's return

SAN DIEGO– Perhaps the biggest question theLA Galaxyhave faced this preseason is how to replace Edson Buddle.

Does newcomerChad Barrettplay alongside fellow newcomerJuan Pablo Angel? Or doesLandon Donovanmove up top and create room for first-rounderPaolo Cardozoin the midfield?

The answers? Yes, and yes.

Barrett paired with Angel for the second half of Wednesday’s Galaxy friendly against Xoloitzcuintles at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego. Cardozo started the match as the Galaxy sent out a 4-3-2-1 formation with Angel the lone striker for the first 45 minutes.

Early returns? Each is a work-in-progress. The Galaxy tied Xoloitzcuintles 2-2 but the match was decided in penalties. Xolos won the shootout by 4-3.

The match was not the only preseason friendly the Galaxy has played but it was the only match in an actual game-like setting. An announced crowd of 6,124 took in the game in the cozy confines of Torero Stadium, one-time home of the WUSA’s San Diego Spirit. It was also the first time the Galaxy’s big three of Donovan, Angel andDavid Beckhamplayed on the same field together.

The Galaxy had both plusses and minuses to take away from the game. Beckham was dangerous on set pieces and set up the Galaxy’s first goal, knocking in a 42nd-minute corner kick toOmar Gonzalez, who headed the ball into the back of the net.

However, the Galaxy struggled to piece together many dangerous scoring opportunities in the run of play throughout the night. The second goal came when Donovan knocked a ball into the back of the net from point-blank range on a Galaxy counterattack, but it was a defensive error from a Xolos defender that left Donovan completely unmarked in front of goal in the 75th minute.

The Galaxy had their own defensive mistakes in the match. Armando Pulido found a seam in the Galaxy’s backline and slipped into the penalty area alone before burying the ball into the back of the net late in the first half, minutes before Gonzalez’s goal.

After Donovan put the Galaxy ahead,Frankie Hejdukwas whistled for a foul in the penalty area. Aronio Maduena converted the ensuing penalty kick to level terms, before the result was decided on penalties.

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