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Keane’s double leads Galaxy over Fire

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By JEFFREY KRAUSE

BRIDGEVIEW, IL.- Defending MLS Cup champs LA Galaxy used a brace from Robbie Keane to shut out the Chicago Fire, 2-0, in front of a sold out crowd at Toyota Park on Sunday afternoon.

The much-needed win helped LA avoid a three-game losing skid, after dropping consecutive matches to San Jose and Philadelphia earlier in the week. Chicago fell for the first time in five matches, dating back to June 2nd, but remain in 4th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Fire showed why the departure earlier this week of Sebastian Grazzini leaves a sizable void in their attack, as they struggled to create chances most of the game. Grazzini, who according to the club left to deal with family issues, last appeared against Columbus Crew on June 23rd. Since his absence, and subsequent departure from the club, Chicago has struggled offensively, scoring just one goal in three matches.

The Galaxy had key players missing as well, as David Beckham served his one-game suspension and Landon Donovan started on the bench due to receiving a knock in Wednesday's loss. Key player absence wouldn't be an issue, however, as Robbie Keane would put Galaxy on the board in the 24th minute with a penalty kick after Jalil Anibaba was whistled for a handball in the penalty area.

Keane added to his tally in the second half when second-half sub Landon Donovan found Keane on a breakaway, leaving little work for the Irish National Team player as he slotted a low blast beyond the reach of Sean Johnson, cementing three points for the Galaxy.

”We had a few injuries today, we were short some players but I think we had a good plan coming into the game and we played pretty solid for 90 minutes," said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. "It wasn’t our best game but it was good enough for three points. But it was a good effort by the group.”

Arne Friedrich didn't mince words regarding Chicago's performance.

"We don’t have any excuses. We were pretty lazy today on the pitch. We didn’t have any movement," Friedrich said after the game. "In my eyes, we didn’t have the effort like we have to show. There are no excuses, we deserved to lose today."

Here are the match highlights:

What did you think of the match? Impressed with the Galaxy's attack on Sunday? See the Fire overcoming the loss of Grazzini and finding their offensive groove again?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Agreed…both feet were outside the penalty area. Should not have been a PK. I wonder what Rolfe was thinking…Donovan was right in front of him when he took the ball. And why would Pardo double team Donovan & leave Keane all alone??? There is no one on the team to create and make that last pass with Grazzini gone. The engine that drives this offense is now missing.

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  2. Don’t forget, Beckham is angling for much more than a little free time in London. Dude wants a knighthood. Due to that, he’s obliged to spend time in the Royal Box at Wimbledon.

    Hope he gets knighted before his Galaxy contact expires! Presumably he’ll warm up in a suit of armor.

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  3. Game was in Chicago. Would the Galaxy fly him out to view? Since he’s on ‘his’ time, he can spend it where he sees fit.

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  4. So the hand ball outside of the penalty box, penalty call must have been a birthday present for Keane. Well, in that case I guess I can understand it.

    Also, I found it funny how earlier this week, Galaxy fans were defending Beckhham for kicking the ball at a player who was “wasting time”. While there were about 4 times yesterday that LA players did the same thing. Maybe Pardo should have kicked the ball at them.

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  5. What is the appropriate radius a player should be restricted to when suspended? Is the foci the stadium or the player’s home club? Does Beckham’s multiple homes give him a loophole or is it the player’s primary residence?

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  6. It was a suspension. So what. If he told the Galaxy that he had to go to England to take care of his sick mother and then was seen at the Wimbledon final that would be another story.

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  7. Come on, now. The only reason we even know he was there is because he is David Beckham and so the media has to report it. Players don’t have to attend games when they’re suspended. If he had stayed home, or gone to the movies with his wife, or hit the beach, would it be a story? People will invent any controversy to attack Beckham, it’s absurd.

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  8. Thoughts on this game:

    Donovan looked great when he came on late in this match. He seems to be finding his best form, which the Galaxy will need to make a strong run in the second half of the season.

    Beckham should be suspended or benched by the Galaxy. How disrespectful is it to be suspended for acting idiotic and to not support your team in their next match by flying across the world to watch the Wimbledon final? I expect no action to be taken by the club, however.

    For getting two goals, Keane didn’t play all that well. There were a few times he made a real hash out of chances, and Sean Johnson should be ashamed that he let the second goal in. Terrible positioning.

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