The Galaxy lost their fourth straight and fifth in all competitions as the Whitecaps eked out a close 1-0 victory in mid-week action Wednesday night at the StubHub Center.

Curt Onalfo opted to take the unusual step of starting Ashley Cole in the midfield alongside João Pedro. It was a successful experiment in the first half: The Whitecaps attack was all but dead the first 45 minutes while LA were consistently creating opportunities, though the Galaxy were unable to get anything past keeper David Ousted.

Failing to score would come back to haunt LA: Soon after a towering Dave Romney header was brilliantly swatted away by Ousted, the Whitecaps would get on the board off a set piece of their own. Tony Tchani was alone at the back post to smash a header off the grass that Rowe could only get a hand on before bouncing into the roof of Rowe’s net.

Once again, the Galaxy fought valiantly to get back into the match, and once again LA fell short at home.