CARSON, Calif. — Though Freddy Adu received the bulk of the attention going into D.C. United’s game against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer’s two-time defending goal-scoring champion played the starring role.
The Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz scored in the 85th minute to force a 1-1 tie last night in front of a capacity crowd of more than 27,000 at Home Depot Center.
Ruiz secured a loose ball and fired a shot from the edge of the 18-yard penalty area that sailed under the crossbar.
Ronald Cerritos, who entered the game in the 67th minute, gave United a 1-0 lead one minute later.
The Salvadoran forward volleyed Josh Gros’ left-wing cross into the upper-right corner of the net from 13 yards. Earnie Stewart began the play with a cross to Gros from the right flank. Gros then volleyed the ball to Cerritos.
But the vast majority of the crowd came to see Adu, who received a loud ovation after replacing Alecko Eskandarian in the 46th minute.
Among those in attendance were actor Robert Duvall, comedian Will Ferrell and about 2,000 fans who paid for standing-room tickets on a grassy bank underneath the scoreboard.
Seconds after entering, Adu received a forearm to the back of the head from defender Hong Myung-Bo, a World Cup veteran with South Korea.
Adu retaliated five minutes later by pushing Hong from behind while the defender allowed Stewart’s through ball to cross the end line untouched.
The young forward almost tied the score in the 90th minute, but goalkeeper Kevin Hartman dived to his right to deflect Adu’s 8-yard shot away from the right post.
Much of pregame speculation dealt with whether Adu would make his first start after playing the final 29 minutes in the season opener against San Jose.
Dema Kovalenko’s one-game suspension for receiving a red card in that game could have opened a spot in the lineup for Adu, the highly regarded 14-year-old offensive threat.
Instead, United coach Peter Nowak gave Gros his first professional start. Gros started at defensive midfielder, Kovalenko’s position, but played mostly on the left flank as Ben Olsen received freedom to roam the field.
Olsen almost put United ahead in the eighth minute. He dribbled past three defenders and fired a rising 13-yard shot that Hartman deflected while falling.
Hartman foiled United four minutes later when he leaped to catch Stewart’s 21-yard shot at the right post.
The Galaxy’s best chance in the first half came in the 45th minute. Andreas Herzog’s corner kick from the right side sailed right to Sasha Victorine, positioned in front of the left post. But Victorine’s 2-yard header missed wide.
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