VANCOUVER, B.C - The LA Galaxy celebrated the 4th of July with a victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Robbie Keane made his return from Euro 2016 duty with Republic of Ireland and scored a brilliant first half goal as the LA Galaxy claimed a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of 27,167 supporters. Steven Gerrard picked up a pair assists and Bruce Arena's side scored in each half. Los Angeles now improves to 6-3-8 on the season and they also jump ahead of the Whitecaps (7-8-3) into 4th place in the competitive MLS Western Conference table.
Following the match Bruce Arena spoke about Robbie Keane and what he brings to the Galaxy.
"It’s been one of those years. Robbie (Keane)'s last full game was when he left here which would have been May 22. It’s July 4. He hasn't played the whole time he’s been gone and he’s going to have to work to get his fitness back. But he did a heck of a job tonight. Steven Gerrard’s been hurting and Giovani dos Santos has been hurting and Gyasi Zardes has been gone. Gyasi was a workhorse with the national team. We gave him the week off and it’s good to get him back. He’s very valuable as well. It’s just been tough. We’re missing two defenders, we’ll miss Nigel on Saturday. Robbie Rogers has got surgery. It’s taking some time. Not to make excuses; it is what it is. You just have to try and be better in the second half of the season."
Carl Robinson talked about his teams play in the second half as they fought to score a goal.
"I thought we got into some very good positions. We passed the ball very well. Again, you’re not going to dominate possession when you come to LA. He’s the best coach in the league, we know that. They've got the best players in the league. And they can change games in a second which showed in the first half. To give a goal away a minute in the second half whether it was a foul or not doesn't matter. Then you’re 2-nil down and it’s character. And my group has got a lot of character. We kept playing, we kept plugging away and we got into some great areas but we didn’t have the quality in and around the penalty box. But I can’t fault them for their effort and the way the approached the game."
The Opening 45
The LA Galaxy were back to full strength on the offensive side of the ball at least. Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes and Steven Gerrard all started for LA against the visiting Whitecaps. Vancouver elected to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw lone striker Erik Hurtado, supported by Christian Bolanos, Pedro Morales, and Nicolas Mezquida.
The Galaxy didn't take long to open the scoring in the 12' minute. Steven Gerrard played a lovely ball from the midfield up to Robbie Keane. The Irishman took a touch just outside the box before firing a curling shot into the top left corner. David Ousted had no chance to make the save and Keane's shot was a 4th of July cracker that put LA in an early lead. Keane described his goal and the Gerrard setup.
"I’ve been doing this for a long time. As soon as you get half a yard and can see the goal, take a shot. If you don’t shoot, you don’t score. Thankfully for me, it went into the top corner. As soon as Stevie gets the ball, I know exactly where to go and I know what he’s going to do. He’s done it for a long time. Sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn't. Tonight, for me, it went in."
Vancouver appeared to strike back with an equalizer a few moments later. A free kick from Christian Bolanos found the head of Andrew Jacobson, however the defensive midfielder was too early and the potential goal was called back on a offside.
The Whitecaps picked up the pace as they looked for a tying goal. Erik Hurtado and Nicolas Mezquida both had multiple opportunities to even the match. Hurtado missed the target from in close off a volley, and Mezquida had his shot blocked near the end line. Galaxy keeper Brian Rowe was under pressure, but not troubled because only one of Vancouver's eleven first half attempts hit the net.
The chances were there for the taking, but LA remained in the advantage 1-0 at halftime. The Galaxy also owned a 59% - 41% possession advantage while fending off the Whitecaps quick counter-attack.
The Second Half
The LA Galaxy opened the second half with back to back corners and they capitalized on the second one in the 47' minute. Steven Gerrard sent in a great ball, that was headed past David Ousted by Jeff Larentowicz. The former Chicago Fire man scored his first of the season, while Jordan Harvey was looking for a push-off foul to be called, it was not.
In an effort to get his team going offensively, Carl Robinson made a pair of offensive substitutions. Blas Perez entered the match in the 67' minute and Cristian Techera made his way onto the pitch in the 71'. Vancouver was not generating as many quality chances to score in the second half as they had earlier on.
The Whitecaps caught a potential life-line in the 74' minute as tough tackling Nigel De Jong was issued a straight red card for a brutal and late challenge on Blas Perez. The former Milan man caught Perez's ankle with a lunging slide tackle. Bruce Arena quickly brought on Baggio Hušidić for Robbie Keane as LA was forced to play with 10-men for the remainder of the match.
Carl Robinson spoke to the media and was asked if De Jong should have been issued a red card.
"Do I think? I like Nigel. He’s a competitor. I said to the linesman, 4th official… they have a difficult job as it is, but you set your tone and there was two or three challenges…my midfield player got a yellow card for a tackle when there was worse tackles. I haven’t seen it again, but Nigel’s a competitor. I leave it at that, it’s not my decision."
LA Coach Bruce Arena had a different opinion on the red card De Jong earned himself.
"It wasn't a good tackle. I think you can pick your colour card. I don’t like when the referee shows a yellow card then comes back and gives a red. This is two weeks in a row. The one last week with Ashley, someone should put their hand up and say, “I'm sorry, that’s a big mistake and it shouldn't happen.” I think tonight it’s valid to give a red card, but it’s awkward when you show a yellow then come back with a red. I think Nigel has to show better judgement. I think he got elbowed on the play and got a little angry. But I don’t think the tackle is a good tackle by any means."
Vancouver could not muster a goal against the LA Galaxy, they had plenty of chances in each half, but the ball just wasn't destined for the LA Galaxy net. Bruce Arena's lads scored early and defended their goal as Vancouver lacked finish in the final third. The Whitecaps will now look to defeat the stingy and defensive minded Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 9 at BC Place.
Man of the Match
Steven Gerrard
Like a old bottle of wine, Steven Gerrard gets better with age. Just when you think he's done and ready to hang up his boots, he puts on a terrific show. Stevie G, had a pair of terrific assets. He setup Robbie Keane with a super through ball and he found the head of Jeff Larentowicz for LA's insurance goal. If Gerrard can turn back the clock and show he still has a lot to offer, LA will no doubt have another fantastic threat for MLS opponents across North America.
"Bruce Arena, he’s trusting me further up the pitch," said Gerrard. That's the key. I told him, play me closer to Robbie Keane and the attacking players and I’ll make plays on the final third, simple, I've done it all my career. I can’t make plays from the edge of my box, so play me closer to the opposition goal, and I’ll try and get goals and try and create goals."
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Jordan Smith, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Andrew Jacobson, Matias Laba 81 (Kianz Froese); Christian Bolaños, Pedro Morales(C), Nicolas Mezquida 67 (Blas Perez); Erik Hurtado 71 (Cristian Techera). 4-2-3-1.
Los Angeles Starting XI: Brian Rowe; A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Leonardo, Dave Romney; Nigel De Jong, Jeff Larentowicz; Giovani Dos Santos 93+ (Mike Magee), Steven Gerrard 85 (Alan Gordon), Gyasi Zardes; Robbie Keane 77 (Baggio" Hušidić). 4-2-3-1
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