Five-star Galaxy sparkle in New York City rout
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Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane was the star as Los Angeles Galaxy thrashed New York City 5-1 in the Major League Soccer battle of the big-spenders on Sunday.
Galaxy captain Keane scored two goals and set up two more to help secure all three points for his team in a one-sided contest between the two most expensively assembled sides in the MLS. Keane's second, the Galaxy's fifth, was the club's 1000th goal in MLS competition.
American international Gyasi Zadres, Mexico striker Giovani Dos Santos and midfielder Sebastian Lletget scored the Galaxy's other goals. The pre-match build-up had been dominated by hype surrounding the renewal of the rivalry between the Galaxy's former England captain Steven Gerrard and City's Frank Lampard.
However hopes of a midfield duel between the former Liverpool and Chelsea stars were scuppered before kick-off when City omitted Lampard from their match-day squad due to injury. Nevertheless City did hand a start to former Italy and Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo, who showed some silky touches despite a mostly frustrating afternoon as Los Angeles got on top.
Although City had the first decent attempt on goal, David Villa's angled shot saved by Galaxy's former Jamaican international Donovan Ricketts, it was mostly one-way traffic thereafter. Ireland record goalscorer Keane created the opener for Zardes on 36 minutes when a quickly taken Galaxy freekick caught City napping.
The ball was transferred quickly to Keane on the right flank, who picked out the unmarked Zardes who headed past City keeper Josh Saunders with ease. On 54 minutes Keane made it 2-0, latching onto a superbly weighted pass from strike partner Dos Santos to finish.
Keane returned the favour 13 minutes later, springing the City offside trap with a through ball for Dos Santos who made no mistake for 3-0. Gerrard, who had a quiet game, provided the assist for the Galaxy's fourth, touched in from close range by Lletget.
City hit back with a consolation penalty scored by Villa in the 80th minute, but Galaxy responded almost immediately with Keane's second, slicing apart the City defence with ease. A clever backheel from Lletget released fullback Robbie Rogers down the left flank, and the defender calmly rolled an inch-perfect pass into the path of the unmarked Keane who duly tucked away his second for 5-1.
Keane might have had a hat-trick in the closing minutes, when Gerrard burst into the box and squared unselfishly for the Irishman. But instead of going for goal, Keane attempted to pass back to Gerrard allowing City to clear and the chance was gone.