Galaxy Stops the Revolution

Robbie Keane returns to action for the Galaxy and scores twice. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Robbie Keane returns to action for the Galaxy and scores twice. (Photo by Duane Barker)

By Tim Peterson

(Carson) – The Galaxy jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half and then had to hang on for a 4-2 win over New England Sunday before 21,237 at StubHub Center.

The Galaxy got on the board first when Gyasi Zardes delivered a cross right in front of the net that Robbie Keane knocked in for the score in the 14th minute.

Later in the half it was Rowe on Rowe as Galaxy keeper Brian saved a shot from distance from New England’s Kelyn. In the 22nd minute Giovani dos Santos rifled a bullet by Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth for a 2-0 advantage. Dos Santos absolutely crushed a line drive that left a sprawling Shuttleworth grasping at air.

Giovani dos Santos finds the back of the net again. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Giovani dos Santos finds the back of the net again. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Dos Santos gets off another drive eight minutes later but Shuttleworth batted it away. The Galaxy continued to buzz as Zardes had a header in front of the net in the 31st minute that Shuttleworth grabbed.

Keane had an opportunity in the 37th minute but his head shot was also stopped by Shuttleworth.

Dos Santos was wide left on a break away three minutes later as the Galaxy was still pressing. The pressure then paid off as Zardes served one up on a gold platter for Keane in front of the net at the 45:00 minute mark and Keane bumped it in for his second of the day. The Galaxy was up 3-0 at the break.

Steven Gerrard came on in the second half and put the Galaxy up 4-2. (Photo by Duane Barker)

Steven Gerrard came on in the second half and put the Galaxy up 4-2. (Photo by Duane Barker)

In the second half Zardes fired one wide left in the 54th minute after getting free from a defender on a rush.

Keane exited in the 60th minute and was replaced by Steven Gerrard.

Rowe got his sixth save of the night on a blast by Teal Bunbury in the 67th minute but in the 68th New England broke through as Kelyn Rowe booted one by Brian Rowe to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Revolution kept up the attack and in the 70th minute Juan Agudelo hit one into the back of the net beating Galaxy defender Daniel Steres and Brian Rowe and suddenly it was 3-2.

The officials declared four minutes of additional in the second half. Gerrard officially put a halt to the Revolution when he scored in extra time with a nifty move to beat Shuttleworth from the left side.

“Give New England credit. They continued to fight and battle and we didn’t do well in the second half,” said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. “We can play better and we can be a pretty good team but we need a lot more work together and coordination. It’s never easy. We got our points today and we’re happy about that but it’s not a cake walk by any means.”

The Galaxy improved to 5-1-3 with the win while New England dropped to 1-3-7.

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