CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy’s James Riley had barely settled into his seat on the sideline Saturday when the call went out to him. And the 10-year veteran was more than ready.
Riley entered the game in the 16th minute when left back Robbie Rogers was lost to a leg injury and surprisingly went the rest of the way in a 3-0 victory over Toronto FC in front of 24,064 at StubHub Center.
It had been almost seven months since Riley, who made the team as a free agent during training camp earlier this year, last made an appearance. On March 22, in a match against Real Salt Lake, he went down with a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee that required surgery and a lengthy recovery.
But there he was Saturday, more than up to the emergency duty.
“I was hesitant about putting him in that early in the game,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “The thinking was he probably would have to come out in the second half at some point, but he hung in there. That’s terrific.
“He’s worked real hard to come back from that surgery and that injury. To be able to give us 75 minutes or so on a night when we needed it was big. That’s all part of the story with your team. You’ve got to call on everyone on this squad and James stepped up and did his job today.”
Riley, who had played in only two games (both starts) prior to Saturday, said he actually wasn’t surprised he was able to go the rest of the way.
Hot conditions during recent practice sessions and a healthy influx of adrenaline, he said, combined to make a difference in his return.
“We’ve been training really well,” he said. “I knew under the lights and the adrenaline going I could go a bit more than I thought. It was more of a chess match where with things physically and mentally I’d just sit, get the play going, connect passes and be aware of (Toronto’s Dominic) Oduro on the break.
“I didn’t want to get caught.”
Riley’s solid performance did not go unnoticed by his teammates.
“I thought James came in and did a great job,” said Landon Donovan, whose assist on Robbie Keane’s second goal gave him 136 for his MLS career, breaking the mark he had shared with Steve Ralston. “It’s been the curse of this team all year, the outside back spot, but guys have come in and done a great job.
“He hasn’t played a game since Salt Lake and it says a lot about his professionalism, his preparation that he was ready to come in and help us.”
Riley said he was more than prepared to do his part.
“Me and the guys off the bench have said that coming to the critical time of the year we have to ready for our opportunity,” he said. “It came tonight, and obviously I had a fantastic group around me which made the communication easier. I’m going in behind LD (Donovan), Leo (Leonardo) who played great. The midfielders gave me good angles to pass.
“Just be ready, be a pro about it and add to the team anyway you can, especially a team that’s on a roll.”
