Alan Gordon heads home the game winner against Club America
By Tim Peterson
(Carson)- Alan Gordon’s goal in the 79th minute proved to be the game winner as the Galaxy rallied to beat Club America 2-1 Saturday night in the first match of the International Champions Cup before 27, 924 at StubHub Center.
Gordon’s header that found the back of the net came off of a perfectly placed pass by Raul Mendiola in the front of the net.
Gordon and Mendiola both entered the game in the second half as Coach Bruce Arena made wholesale changes at halftime.
Robbie Keane knots the game at 1-1 in the 45th minute.
Darwin Quintero scored first for Club America when he got loose and fired one by Brian Rowe in the 8th minute for a 1-0 lead.
Robbie Keane set up Sebastian Lletget with a nice cross but Lletget couldn’t finish it in the 16th minute. Steven Gerrard, making his debut with the Galaxy after coming over from Liverpool, got off a shot but Club goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez made the save in the 22nd minute.
Club America had a big threat in the 39th minute buzzing in front of the bet but the ball was cleared away.
Steven Gerrard gets his first action with the Galaxy in the win over Club America
Keane then got LA even in the 45th minute as he took a pass, made a move, and tapped it in for a 1-1 tie at the break.
Garrard played the whole first half but was one of many Galaxy players to leave at the break as Arena pulled everybody except Ignacio Maganto and goalkeeper Brian Rowe. Rowe was then replaced in the 61st minute by Andrew Wolverton.
Maganto picked up a yellow card in the 54th minute but Club America couldn’t capitalize. Club America received two yellow cards in the next four minutes but LA was unable to score.
Gordon finally broke the deadlock knocking one in the 71st minute.
Three minutes additional time were added but the Galaxy held on to secure the victory.
“It was a really good effort. I thought our whole group played well tonight,” Arena said. “I thought it took us about 15 or 20 minutes to get into the game but it was a really good first half. Keane’s goal was a good goal. It was nice to go in even at the half, I think that was pretty deserving.”
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