Game halted by storm at honours even

It was a case of ‘storm stops play’ as a massive thunderstorm washed out the second half of Palace’s second and final USA tour game against current MLS Champions, Los Angeles Galaxy.

Jon Macken had given the Eagles an early lead, but they had been pegged back after a defensive mistake allowed Paulo Nagamura to equalise in what was a very even 45 minutes of play.

Palace roared off the blocks with captain Danny Butterfield inspiring a half chance within the first 30 seconds. Within five minutes, Palace had taken the lead after a stinging 20 yard shot from Tommy Black was parried away by Galaxy ‘keeper Steve Cronin - the ball fell kindly to Jon Macken who raced in and slotted home from an acute angle.

Against ominously darkening skies to the west and a bizarre aural background of match commentary and advertisements from the PA announcer whilst the game was in progress, LA Galaxy began to dominate in the middle. Kyle Martino caught the eye with a number of telling runs and did Cobi Jones, still sporting the ‘pineapple’ haircut, patrolling the right flank. However, for all their good work, neither could find a route through Palace’s back line.

Most of Palace’s joy came down the right side as Butterfield and Black combined well with Macken, who came in for some rough, but unpunished treatment. On 26 minutes, Macken was sent clear following a clever through ball from Dougie Freedman, but he scuffed his shot wide with just the keeper to beat.

A minute later, play had switched to the other end and a poor attempted back pass by Michael Hughes saw Nagamura nip in and rifle the ball home leaving Julian Speroni with no chance.

Palace hit back through Ben Watson, but his shot drifted wide. The best unconverted chance of the half fell to LA Galaxy’s Alan Gordon whose snapshot was pushed up onto the bar by Speroni. An almighty scramble ensued which was finally ended with Butterfield’s boot launching the ball to safety.

The referee blew for half-time, just as the first spots of rain were felt and both sides had reason to feel pleased with their efforts in leaving the game nicely poised for the two different second half line-ups to take forward, but it was not to be.

Sadly, the charcoal sky above opened completely and ten minutes of torrential rain was followed by an electrical storm that simply would not shift, despite a 25 minute break in proceedings, leaving the referee little choice but to abandon the game under Virginia State safety directives.

Peter Taylor was clearly disappointed with this decision, but was also anxious about the effect of the rainfall on the peculiarly spongy turf. Commenting on the first half performance, he felt that we had started well but too many passes were going astray. There was a definite feeling amongst the Palacestaff that this was a job was only half done.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Ward, Hudson, Borrowdale, Black, Hughes, Watson, Freedman, Macken, Sheringham,

Posted by neil