Advertisement

Galaxy’s walking wounded on the mend

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard warms up before a match on March 12.

Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard warms up before a match on March 12.

(David Zalubowski / AP)
Share

Some of the Galaxy’s walking wounded shuffled back to the training field Tuesday, with attacker Giovani dos Santos and goalkeeper Dan Kennedy participating in full workouts and midfielder Steven Gerrard talking part in his first practice session in more than two weeks.

Dos Santos and Kennedy were both injured in the first half of the Galaxy’s first game, a March 6 win over D.C. United, and haven’t played since. Kennedy sustained a groin injury in that game and Dos Santos went out with an unspecified leg injury.

Gerrard, who limped off with a calf injury three minutes into a March 19 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, trained apart from the team Tuesday. It is not known when he will participate in full-squad workouts.

Advertisement

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said last week he expected to have Dos Santos available for Sunday’s game with the defending Major League Soccer champion Portland Timbers at the StubHub Center. The team is already down one forward, with Robbie Keane having undergone knee surgery last week, and one midfielder, with Gerrard out.

But Kennedy might not return to the starting lineup as quickly, partly because his replacement, Brian Rowe, has been outstanding.

“I’m just ... trying to make the most of the opportunities I’m given,” Rowe said after holding Vancouver scoreless in last week’s tie with the Whitecaps.

“As you start to get more and more games in a row it gets you into a good rhythm and you know how to prepare yourself best for the game, mentally and physically. I think the more games I string together, the more confidence I feel.”

Rowe leads MLS with a save percentage of 88.9% in four games, making 16 saves while allowing just two goals for the Galaxy (2-1-1).

“I’ve been in the league for a couple of years now, I’ve played in a number of games. I think I’ve got my feet wet and it’s gotten past that point of having those nerves before games,” Rowe continued. “I can’t control whether we score or not, my focus coming into each game is to try to keep it at zero and keep that shutout.”

Advertisement

Midfielder/defender Jeff Larentowicz and Leonardo, the team’s defender of the year last season, are both back on the training field as well after undergoing minor surgical procedures this winter, Larentowiz for a hernia and Leonardo to clean up a previously damaged knee. Neither has played this season but Larentowicz, signed as a free agent after playing with the Chicago Fire last season, is reportedly close to making his Galaxy debut.

# # #

The Galaxy also announced Tuesday that it will hold tryouts for its 2016 Special Olympics team on April 23 at the StubHub Center, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Players chosen to that team will compete against other MLS-affiliated Special Olympics Unified Teams during the year

Players for this coed Special Olympics team will be selected based on three key factors: their ability to work with and value teammates of all abilities, their commitment to the Play Unified experience and to their fellow teammates, and their understanding of the game and rules of soccer.

The tryouts will take place on Field No. 5 at StubHub Center, the first field on the right as drivers use entrance gate A, off Avalon Boulevard. For more information and to get a registration form, go to laGalaxy.com

Advertisement