CARSON, Calif -- The LA Galaxy defeated DC United 3-1 at a windy Home Depot Center this afternoon in front of 18,466 fans. Irish pride was on display with St. Patrick's Day yesterday, and Ireland's captain Robbie Keane didn't disappoint. His first ever brace in MLS gave the Galaxy a comfortable victory, their first of the year.
Robbie Keane scored LA's first goal in the 44'. Mike Magee had the ball thirty yards out, and sent a cross into the far post. Todd Dunivant was there to head it down into the path of Robbie Keane who slammed it home.
The goal was Keane first effort to make it to the back of the net, but he had plenty of tries. In fact, leading up to that goal Keane had three straight tries on Joe Willis. The first, in the 33' was kicked straight at Willis who capably made the save. The second attempt in the 42' was blocked by a defender. In total, Keane took five shots in the first half, three on target.
Keane may have taken some time to channel the luck of the Irish, but Mike Magee also had a first half attempt go straight at the keeper. If the Galaxy have lacked something in these first two weeks, it's their finishing in the final third of the field. They'll have to finish their chanced better going forward as the defense has shown enough holes that 1-0 every match is no longer an option.
Once Keane got his confidence back, fans looked for him to brace and Keane didn't disappoint. Twenty-five minutes into the second half Landon Donovan dispossessed Branko Boskovic, who had come in for Steven King, in the Galaxy's attacking third. Donovan dribbled to the box then found Robbie Keane inside the box to the left 16 yards out. Keane's strike was a golazo, burning past Joe Willis and hitting the top corner.
Marcelo Sarvas was the other Galaxy player to score this afternoon, his first MLS goal. The Galaxy were simply toying with DC at this stage of the game, and after a Keane shot was blocked, Donovan had many open players in the box to chose from. He went with David Beckham on the wing, who crossed it in. Sarvas' leaning header made it 3-0.
DC United managed to get one back in the 86', Nick DeLeon found himself all alone in the Galaxy box and just whipped one into the wind. It hit the far post and went in, soiling Josh Saunders' chance at his 12th MLS clean sheet.
The Galaxy now have two weeks off, after playing four games in the span of two weeks. Bruce Arena played essentially the same lineup in each match, so this time to recoup will be quite important. Their next match will be at the end of March against the New England Revolution.