Result: Pachuca 1 Galaxy 2

Two second half strikes from Alan Gordon and Landon Donovon took the Galaxy to the top of SuperLiga Group B tonight in front of 19,317 in Carson.

The win broke a four-game Galaxy winless streak and was their first victory since Independence Day.

Alan Gordon claimed the opener five minues after the break, getting behind the last Pachuca defender and employing his left arm to control the long Landon Donovan cross before slotting it home.

The goal galvanized Pachuca and it was no surprise when striker Rafael Marquez Lugo equalized twelve minutes from the final whistle, stepping in front of Galaxy defender Abel Xavier and side-footing home a Damian Alvarez cross at the near post.

But the Galaxy struck back just three minutes later with a well-worked move begun by Chris Klein. Donovan received the ball, beat a defender and supplied Cobi Jones wide on the left, who beat two more defenders himself and shot a ball from 17 yards that deflected off Donovan into the net.

Updated 11:15 p.m.

Possession-oriented Pachuca still dominated the stats sheet in the second half — winning eight corners to the Galaxy’s one and getting twice as many shots (12) as the Galaxy on goal.

But it was the Galaxy that got the breaks — literally, said Coach Frank Yallop.

“(In the first half) we kind of allowed ourselves to let them play,” he said. “And I thought if we really, really decided to break on them we’d score goals and that proved right.”

Striker Alan Gordon acknowledged he handled the ball on his goal. But, y’know, he didn’t care.

“It wasn’t called,” he said with a laugh. “I kind of looked over my shoulder, but the flag was down. I’ll take it.”

Next up for the Galaxy: the real Chivas Saturday at the Coliseum.

Updated: Galaxy beat writer Billy Witz has more on the game here.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!