Galaxy Keep Rolling in 2-0 Win Against San Jose

Carson, CA -- On Saturday night, before a sellout crowd at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy played the San Jose Earthquakes for the second and final time in the MLS regular season.

Their first meeting in Northern California in June was a wild match in which the Galaxy’s Donovan Ricketts was severely injured; Josh Saunders was red-carded for throwing an elbow at San Jose’s Steven Lenhart following an unprofessional play; and Mike Magee stepped in at the goalie position to secure a tie for the Galaxy.

The other major storyline heading into this rivalry match was that Robbie Keane would be starting for the Galaxy following his signing from Tottenham and arrival to the U.S. just days prior.

LA would waste no time getting going as Juninho made a midfield pass to Adam Cristman in the 1st minute. Cristman got a shot past goalkeeper Jon Busch, but was denied by the far post. San Jose responded in the 3rd minute with a strong shot by Khari Stephenson that Josh Saunders was able to save.

In the following minutes, Galaxy stars Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Robbie Keane would begin to find their flow into the game, and the entire team began to pass the ball well around the Earthquake defense.

In the 15th minute, Beckham found Keane with a short pass into the box (but Keane was called offsides), and in the 16th minute Beckham had a free-kick from 19 yards away that hit the wall before reaching goal.

The Galaxy’s work and talent would shine in the 21st minute as Beckham launched a cross over the heads of the San Jose defense that dropped to the feet of Keane, leaving Keane with just Jon Busch to beat. Keane opened his LA goal-scoring account and sent the fans into a frenzy with a hesitation move around Busch for the goal. Maybe more impressive than the play was Keane’s celebration, as he pulled off a cartwheel and summersault before his teammates mobbed him.

The goal by Keane gave LA a 1-0 lead over San Jose and was a bright moment for the Galaxy and its fans as they hope for a MLS championship in 2011.

San Jose didn’t get much offensive production in the first half until the 42nd minute, when Rafael Baca decided to fire a shot from outside the 18-yard box that Saunders had to save with a punch of the ball out-of-bounds.

The second half began with the Galaxy having a great opportunity to add another goal to the lead, but Sean Franklin was unable to get a shot on target in a breakaway in the 48th minute.

The Earthquakes would try to level the game in the 55th minute when Baca crossed the ball to the front of goal to a charging Stephenson. Saunders was able to again punch the ball out of play in time, but he and Dunivant collided in an attempt to defend the cross.

Then in the 57th minute of play, Joey Gjersten got a shot off in between two Galaxy defenders that beat Saunders but missed just wide of goal.

Keane almost got the second goal of his Galaxy career in the 64th minute when another ball was played over the San Jose defense and dropped to his feet. Keane caught the ball on a high bounce and shot on goal before the defender and Busch could stop him, but the shot was high of goal.

San Jose would have chances in the second half with free-kicks and crosses into the area, but nothing resulted in a dangerous threat to the Galaxy defense. Then in the 81st minute Steven Beitashour of San Jose was kicked out of the game when he seemed to intentionally kick Donovan as he leaped over him.

In stoppage time, Donovan made a pass to Franklin, and Franklin sent a low cross to the front of goal where goalkeeper hero and forward Mike Magee scored his third goal of the season and gave the LA Galaxy a 2-0 win over San Jose.

The Galaxy continue their CONCACAF Champions League campaign with a game against Costa Rican club Alajuelense at the HDC on Thursday.  The Galaxy will then play against New York on Sunday, as they look to maintain their position as the best team in MLS.

By Brian Kowalski
Staff Reporter for TheDailySportsHerald.com