Gardner Growing

A rising MLS star was on display Saturday night at the Home Depot Center as the Galaxy's left outside midfielder Josh Gardner gave visiting Real Salt Lake fits all night. Gardner, 23, was active off the ball and crafty on it, getting behind the RSL defense and swinging crosses into the box.

On one play, the speedy Gardner held the ball on the left flank near midfield before playing the ball back to a defender and then spinning off his man. He proceeded to fly down the left flank, running down the looping ball his defender had sent him and driving a low cross to striker Herculez Gomez. Gomez' touch went awry and the Galaxy failed to score but the sequence spoke to Gardner's ability to break down opposing defenses with his speed and smarts.

Gardner wasn't done attacking, though. Later on, the 3rd year man out of Cincinnati profited on an errant clearance (which turned out to be an assist) by RSL keeper Scott Garlick. Gardner, who played in just three matches during his first two years in MLS, drifted into the middle of the park, got to the ball first and drilled it home before Garlick could get back in his net.

But as promising as Gardner is, that's how depressing Real Salt Lake is right now. The poor guys couldn't put forth much in the way of a dangerous attack but at least their goalkeeping was horrendous. Garlick was beaten near post by Herculez on the first goal and, as already mentioned, his play didn't exactly improve leading up to Gardner's tally.

Final Note: Chris Albright looked downright dangerous on his attacking runs out of the back for the Galaxy. Only trouble is, this was against RSL. I'll let you know if he keeps it up.