Half Time: Galaxy-Terrible Turtles
Edson Buddle, the Galaxy's second highest scorer last season with 13 goals, showed he hadn't lost his opportunistic touch just before half time, picking off an errant pass between defenders to break free and blast a left-footed shot inside the post to put the Galaxy 1-0 up against Oita Trinita.
That was largely it for goalscoring opportunities in a choppy first half, with both teams struggling to find their feet as one might expect at this stage of the year; Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Wicks made just one save, while Oita's keeper made none.
The Galaxy had a goal disallowed in the 10th minute for offside.
Updated: Buddle came off at the half and was replaced with draft pick Kyle Patterson, who dropped into midfield, with Jovan Kirovski moving forward to partner Alan Gordon up front.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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