CARSON, Calif. (AP) A few days after Brian Rowe made a howling mistake in Montreal, the LA Galaxy goalkeeper posted his second shutout of the season.
Rowe and his teammates chose to focus on the positive parts of a dull draw that kept the Galaxy from climbing the MLS standings.
Rowe made four saves, but the Galaxy managed just one shot in a 0-0 tie with Sporting Kansas City on Thursday night.
With a faultless game in net, Rowe atoned for his atrocious mistake in the waning seconds last weekend in Montreal, where he allowed Didier Drogba’s shot to go straight through his hands for the Impact’s winning goal.
“I put the last game behind me,” Rowe said. “I’m happy with the defense. Happy that we were able to fight and get the clean sheet. It’s been a while for that. … In any sport, you have have highs and lows, and that was definitely one of the worst lows I’ve had.”
Scoring chances were rare in a meeting of teams missing several international stars on the final day before MLS’ Copa America break.
Steven Gerrard sat out with a strained hamstring for the Galaxy, who already were without Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes on international duty. Kansas City played without U.S. national teamers Graham Zusi and Matt Besler.
Tim Melia didn’t have to make a save in his fourth shutout for Kansas City, which has just one victory in 11 matches since April 9.
Mike Magee recorded the Galaxy’s only shot, but it was blocked high in the penalty area during the second half.
“They did a good job dropping their team back … and we got very little out of our strikers tonight,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “They didn’t play well. They weren’t aggressive enough. We need to pass the ball into the goal instead of shoot.”
The Galaxy have lost just once in their last 11 matches, and their two losses all season are tied for the fewest in MLS. But they’re winless in four straight, and with four draws in their last six games, they’ve been unable to climb higher than fourth in the Western Conference standings.
Sporting earned points for just the second time in six games.
“I thought we were very organized, very well-disciplined in the game,” Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said. “Getting a shutout was important to us, and at least leaving here with some kind of result.”
Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer shot wide on the only good scoring chance in the first half. Sebastian Lletget appeared to score for the Galaxy in the 56th minute after Magee dislodged the ball from a diving Melia, but officials whistled the Galaxy offside.
Rowe then stopped Jimmy Medranda’s hard shot in the 68th minute. Sporting had more late creativity than the Galaxy, but neither team was rewarded – and the Galaxy didn’t get the call on a possible Kansas City handball in the penalty area during stoppage time.
