Ex-Galaxy Gordon gets brace that gives Toronto FC late 2-2 draw with Galaxy

 
                        Photo by  Michael Janosz/ISIPhotos.com

BY  ADAM SERRANO

There's nothing that Toronto FC forward Alan Gordon loves more than scoring against his former clubs.

Gordon scored two goals in the second half including a decisive game-tying goal in the 94th minute that gave Toronto FC just their second point away from the friendly confines of BMO Field.

The tying goal came just three minutes after Juan Pablo Angel scored what was believed to be the game winner before Gordon's late strike. For former Galaxy man --who played for the Galaxy from 2004 to 2010 -- to score a brace amid abuse from his former teammates and fans was truly an emotional moment.

"I was just telling someone that I have 70 percent of my goals against former teams or Chivas," Gordon told reporters after the match. "It was just special because I don't score goals like that, to get it against my former team in the 94th minute then of course it was special."

The Galaxy were clearly eager to shake the cobwebs of a bland 0-0 draw last week against D.C. United stormed out of the gate as Chris Birchall scored his first career goal in MLS in the second minute of play. In the first half, the Galaxy deployed a midfield "diamond" formation with David Beckham dropped back to defensive midfield while Miguel Lopez was deployed in a slot role, filling in for the departed Landon Donovan and Juninho, who both missed the match.Lopez appeared to have success early in the first half, but as the match wore on, the midfield struggled resulting in several turnovers that allowed TFC to work their way back into the match. 

A pair of injuries first to Tony Tchani and then to Jacob Peterson led to a bittersweet comeback from Toronto as it allowed Joao Plata and Gordon to come in and lead the Reds after the break. The most severe was to Tchani, who was tackled from behind by David Beckham and left the match on a gurney at halftime. 

TFC got their first goal in the 68th minute when Gordon scored off a header that caught the Galaxy defense flatfooted. Toronto were unlucky to not take the lead when Maicon Santos fired a shot that deflected off the cross bar. However, as the game ticked down Angel scored his third goal of the season in the 91st minute that seemed like a winner, but only set up Gordon to steal the show late. Four minutes into stoppage time, Gordon fired a curler from his right foot that easily beat Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders and gave TFC a vital road point.  For the Galaxy, it marked just another disappointing result against a team that it clearly should have beaten.

"Those were two home  games, DC and Toronto, that on paper we should win but those are the toughest games, they’re coming in with nothing to lose, they can defend and fight and play for 90 minutes which they did," said Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant. "And tonight, again, we let two points slip away and it comes back to bite you in the end, so its frustrating."

The Galaxy (8-2-7, 31 points)will now hit the road after amassing only two points during a two game home swing and travel to Colorado to take on the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids. Toronto FC (2-5-8) will continue their road swing traveling to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Revolution.

For Gordon, he hopes that the Reds will be able to duplicate their play in the second half and show the type of competitive drive that has eluded them during their poor start to the season.

"At halftime, we got together and we needed to come out with pride, heart and fight, something that we haven't done a lot lately and we really did it today," said Gordon. "In the second half, we put together 45 good minutes and now we need to do it for 90 minutes and moving up the table."