COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – LA Galaxy stars Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard were questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Colorado Rapids. By night’s end, they left no doubt, both contributing in a 3-1 comeback win for their team at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
With the Galaxy down 1-0 after the break, Sebastian Lletget sparked a rally with a 56th-minute strike that was culminated on goals by Alan Gordon, cleaning up a powerful shot by Gerrard, and Keane late in stoppage time, giving LA their first road win in nearly a year.
Ironically, the Galaxy’s last league win away from StubHub Center came Aug. 20 last year against the Rapids. Their third win in the last four games moves LA into third place in the Western Conference with 34 points from 23 games.
Colorado’s first three-game winning streak of the season comes to an end, leaving them at the bottom of the Western standings with 24 points from 20 matches.
While LA was not short on star power, it was Colorado who opened up the game on the front foot.
After some strong stretches of possession, the hosts opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Dillon Powers found Marcelo Sarvas, who cut the ball away from newly signed LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and buried his first goal in a Rapids uniform for the 1-0 lead.
Colorado nearly doubled the lead in the 34th minute, when Kevin Doyle’s cross drifted to a diving Jared Watts, whose header went into the side netting.
The Rapids’ 1-0 halftime lead was indicative of a dominant opening half in which they outshot the Galaxy 7-2.
But only 10 minutes into the second half, the visitors started turning the tide. LA midfielder Juninho found Lletget streaking into open space. Lletget unleashed a left-footed blast past Rapids ‘keeper Clint Irwin and inside the far post to level the score at 1-1 in the 56th minute.
The Galaxy nearly took the lead in the 67th minute when Keane whipped in a low shot from the left side of the box, but Irwin came up with the save. Soon enough, the Galaxy would take control with some help from Gerrard.
In the 69th minute, the former Liverpool legend let fly a stinging right-footed shot from the left corner of the box that Irwin parried away but right to Gordon for an easy tap in at the far post to give LA the lead.
Colorado was then tasked with seeking the equalizer, and they came close in the 78th minute when Juan Ramirez struck a half volley toward Ricketts, who palmed the ball away from danger. But with several Rapids deep in the Galaxy’s attacking half in the dying minutes, LA won the ball back with a three-on-one opportunity in extra time. Gerrard found Keane to cap the win with LA’s third goal.
The Galaxy return to Stubhub Center next Thursday to face Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago) to open their 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League campaign. Colorado will remain at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to face the Columbus Crew next Saturday.
