There was no surprise that Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy would come into the contest looking a little rusty. After all, the team was recuperating from injuries with the 2010 FIFA World Cup break.

On Saturday at BMO Field, the G's got back into the familiar habit of earning points, rather than coming up empty. On a pitch that was drenched with heavy precipitation late into the night, the Galaxy held Toronto FC to another scoreless draw.

Really, though, the Galaxy looked and felt disconnected their first time out of the break. The passing was not crisp, and the shooting by the likes of Juninho was simply unacceptable. Tristan Bowen will have wanted to rue the opportunities he had with the ball.

To their credit, the Galaxy neutralized the TFC midfielders and never got them going offensively. Nick LaBrocca threatened with a triad of shots for the Reds.

But Donovan Ricketts only needed to make one save on the night at BMO, and that was a shot in the first half by Dwayne De Rosario.

De Rosario was held at bay by the Galaxy backline. Center back Omar Gonzalez proved to be a talisman behind Toronto's frustrations in their attacking third.

With the draw, Los Angeles improves to 10-1-3 (33 points), six points ahead of the Columbus Crew for the top overall spot in the league and nine points to the good of Real Salt Lake.


INS & OUTS:

On the continuing adventures of Landon and Edson in South Africa...

Landon Donovan saved the USA from elimination in the group stages last Wednesday with a goal in the 91st minute to beat Algeria, 1-0, and secure a date with Ghana in the Round of 16 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“He stepped up again. I was so happy for him. He deserves it,” Todd Dunivant said on the goal. “He’s been playing world-class soccer for the last year-and-a-half now, and he’s totally being recognized now. People are realizing this guy is for real and one of top players in the world.

“It felt like the game was slipping away from the US. They were pushing and were clearly the better team. Algeria was playing defensively the whole time. It didn’t make sense why they (Algeria) were sitting back there, content with putting the US out of the World Cup even it if meant them going out.

“The team certainly has flair for the dramatic. Even with the Confederations Cup last year, it is not dull watching US soccer play. The football gods looked down brightly upon us.”

Not so on Saturday. In extra time, a 93rd minute strike by Asamoah Gyan sunk the States 2-1 in Rustenberg.

If Bob Bradley isn't relieved of his duties sometime very soon, Sunil Gulati is a bigger fool than I first imagined.

A Galaxy of World Cup stars

Aside from Bruce Arena, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, and David Beckham, 28 other current and former Galaxy players, coaches, assistants, and trainers have taken part in a FIFA World Cup.

There have been as many current and former Galaxy members who have competed in the World Cup as teams competing in the Finals. How about that!

Current Players:
David Beckham (1998, 2002, 2006 as a player, and 2010 as an assistant with England)
Landon Donovan (2002, 2006, 2010 with U.S.)
Edson Buddle (2010 with U.S.)
Gregg Berhalter (2002 and 2006 with U.S.)
Chris Birchall (2006 with Trinidad and Tobago)
Eddie Lewis (2002 and 2006 with U.S.)
Clint Mathis (2002 with U.S.)
Donovan Ricketts (1998 with Jamaica)

Former Players:
Bruce Arena (as a coach in 2002 and 2006)
Chris Albright (2006 with U.S.)
DaMarcus Beasley (2002, 2006, 2010 with U.S.)
Paul Caligiuri (1990, 1994 with U.S.)
Brian Ching (2006 with U.S.)
Curt Onalfo (2002, 2006 assistant coach with U.S)
Tony Sanneh (2002 with U.S.)
Alexi Lalas (1994, 1998 with U.S.)
Jorge Campos (1994, 1998, 2002 as a player, and 2006 as an assistant coach with Mexico)
Carlos Hermosillo (1986, 1994 with Mexico)
Luis Hernandez (1998, 2002 with Mexico)
Hong Myung-Bo (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 as an assistant coach with South Korea)
Cornell Glenn (2006 with Trinidad and Tobago)
Andreas Herzog (1990, 1998 with Austria)
Roy Myers (1990 with Costa Rica)
Simon Elliott (2010 with New Zealand)
Carlos Pavon (2010 with Honduras)

Technical Staff:
Dave Sarachan (as a coach in 2002)
Cobi Jones (as a player in 1994, 1998 and 2002)
Jürgen Klinsmann? (as a player in 1990, 1994 and 1998; as a coach in 2006)
Ruud Gullit (as a player in 1990)
Zak Abdel (as a coach in 2010)
Ivan Pierra (as a trainer in 2010)
Ralph Perez (as a coach in 1990)


Youth Academy Update

At the Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Browns Summit, North Carolina, the LA Galaxy Youth Academy U-18's drew 2-2 with FC Greater Boston. Tomorrow, they face the Clearwater Chargers at 5:00 p.m. ET and on Tuesday, they clash with FC Dallas at 11:00 a.m.

The U-20's drew 1-1 with the Southern California Seahorses on June 19 and defeated the Poway Vaqueros 2-0 on June 24. They are currently 3-1-1, good for second place so far in the Super-20 League 2010 Pacific Southern California U20M Division.


U.S. Open Cup Action

The Galaxy begin their 2010 U.S. Open Cup play on Tuesday, June 29 against A.C. St. Louis of the USSF D2 Pro League. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here