(Sports Network) - Shalrie Joseph scored his first goal of the season in the 71st minute as New England overcame two goals from Landon Donovan to tie Los Angeles 2-2 on Saturday in front of 39,256 fans at Gillette Stadium. Taylor Twellman scored his fourth goal in his last five games in the first half but Donovan erased the early edge with goals in the 34th and 55th minutes. New England rallied when Joseph and Michael Parkhurst combined on the tying goal in final 20 minutes.

New England (11-6-5) extended its unbeaten run in Major League Soccer to three games and bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Trinidad & Tobago's Joe Public in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday.

Los Angeles (6-9-7) earned a draw for the second time in its last three matches but is winless in 10 straight MLS games.

Twellman got New England off to a great start by converting a Khano Smith pass into a goal in the 22nd minute. Twellman ran under a long pass from Smith and headed past L.A. goalie Steve Cronin just before the two collided. Twellman was cut below his right eye and Cronin, who left the game at half, hurt his pinkie.

Donovan erased Twellman's early goal in the 34th, running onto a long pass from Peter Vagenas and beating New England goalie Matt Reis with a half-volley into the left side of the net for his 15th goal of the season.

Donovan added his 16th goal of the season - and the 80th of his career - in the 55th minute with an assist from U.S. teammate Eddie Lewis. Lewis played a great pass to Donovan, who split two defenders before beating Reis again.

Joseph spoiled Donovan's fifth multi-goal match of the year - Donovan leads MLS in goals - in the 71st with a great finish from just inside the area. Parkhurst passed to Joseph, who dribbled around a defender and drilled a shot past Josh Wicks, who replaced Cronin to make his MLS debut.

Wells Thompson missed an open chance for New England in the 75th, Joseph headed wide in the 77th and the pace of the game slowed until the final whistle.

Los Angeles will try to snap its winless run on Sept. 6 when it hosts Real Salt Lake but it will likely be without Donovan, Lewis and David Beckham, who could be with their national teams.

New England visits Columbus on Sept. 6 in a battle of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.

Notes: Lewis, who played in England for the last eight seasons, was making his debut for L.A. Lewis started his career in MLS with San Jose from 1996-99.



Copyright 2008 The Sports Network
All rights reserved