Galaxy buys Robbie Keane time to heal in draw with Rapids
The Galaxy eagerly awaits the return of injured captain Robbie Keane, but so far it has managed just fine without him.
The Irish international missed his fourth straight game Saturday yet his Galaxy teammates stepped up in his absence, extending their home unbeaten streak to 27 games with a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids before a boisterous crowd of 16,676 at StubHub Center in Carson.
Moments after being subbed into the game, Alan Gordon scored the equalizer in the 75th minute on a header from 12 yards out off a corner kick by Stefan Ishizaki.
The Galaxy has not lost at home since last year’s season opener, having outscored the opposition 64-18 during its streak.
Colorado took a 1-0 lead when Gabriel Torres received a through ball at midfield from Michael Harrington after a Galaxy turnover, dribbled into the box alone and slid the ball past goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, his international teammate, in the 40th minute. The Rapids’ Sam Cronin thought he scored the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute, but the head referee immediately waved off the goal.
The Galaxy missed a chance in the 10th minute when Baggio Husidic found himself alone with Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin but chipped his shot just over the crossbar from 10 yards out.
Three minutes after Colorado’s Nick LaBrocca was issued a yellow card after a hard foul on Rafael Garcia, Gyasi Zardes had a shot from six yards out deflected out of bounds at the near post by Irwin.
Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena is not expected to put Keane back in the lineup until he fully recovers from a strained groin suffered late in an April 4 loss to Vancouver. Los Angeles (3-2-4) has gone 2-0-2 since then.
Colorado (1-2-6) began the contest last in the Western Conference. Also missing Saturday’s game was 21-year-old forward Jose Villarreal, who re-injured his right hamstring in the U.S. Under-23 squad’s win against Mexico.
Colorado was without Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Sarvas, who helped the Galaxy to the MLS title last season and was back in Los Angeles this week to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, a procedure that will sideline him for at least a month.
