The Galaxy got their Asia Pacific Tour off to a rousing success with a 1-0 win over the Indonesia Selection on Wednesday night at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. Playing in his first-ever friendly as a member of the Galaxy, Robbie Keane scored the game’s only goal in the 14th minute to give the Galaxy the win. The team will head to the Philippines on Thursday for the second game of their tour, which will conclude in Melbourne, Australia on December 6.
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Playing in front of a loud and passionate set of supporters the Indonesian team came out flying, sending wave after wave of attack forward at the Galaxy, only to be let down by their finishing or to have a Galaxy defender intervene at the final moment.
At the other end of the field, David Beckham threatened with a freekick and Robbie Keane went close inside the opening 10 minutes before Keane put his team in front in the 14th minute. A cross from Mike Magee was only half cleared by the Indonesia defense, allowing Adam Cristman to knock the ball down into the path of Keane, who hit a low shot just inside the right post to make the score 1-0.
Juninho nearly made the score 2-0 minutes later when he tried to catch the Indonesia goalkeeper off his line with a volley from midfield, only to see his effort head narrowly wide of the goal. However, that would be one of Juninho’s final involvements in the game as he was forced to come off in the 31st minute because of an injury that he sustained in a sliding collision with the Indonesian goalkeeper after Keane had played him through. He was replaced by Michael Stephens.
Late in the half the Galaxy looked to extend their lead with Sean Franklin going close. Minutes later, Franklin was through again off a feed from Adam Cristman, only for his shot to carom off the post. The rebound fell to Cristman, but his first time shot from the center of the box crashed off the under side of the crossbar before being cleared from danger.
WATCH: Arena, Beckham, Keane recap win
Both teams made multiple changes at the half with the Galaxy bringing on Brian Perk in goal, Frankie Hejduk, Dasan Robinson and Bryan Jordan in defense, Paolo Cardozo in midfield and Miguel Lopez up front.
Of that group, Frankie Hejduk was perhaps the unlikeliest of those to get on the scoresheet, but he nearly did just that just five minutes after the break, volleying a Beckham freekick just wide of the goal from a tight angle. The fresh legs would keep up the pressure for LA with Bryan Jordan providing a perfect low cross for Miguel Lopez, only to see his close range re-direction rebound off the post, though he was whistled for offside.
With his final chance of the game, David Beckham curled a freekick just over the bar before being replaced by Dan Keat to a thunderous applause from the 30,000 fans that were in attendance.
Indonesia pushed for a late equalizer, but they were unable to fins a way past Brian Perk, having a series of shots blocked or pushed just wide in the final 10 minutes, leaving the Galaxy with a 1-0 win to start Asia Pacific Tour 2011.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Robbie Keane (Adam Cristman) 14’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Omar Gonzalez (Yellow Card) 20’
LA – Robbie Keane (Yellow Card) 24’
LA – Mike Magee (Yellow Card) 26’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders (Brian Perk 46’); Sean Franklin (Frankie Hejduk 46’), A.J. DeLaGarza (Jovan Kirovski 66’), Omar Gonzalez (Dasan Robinson 46’), Todd Dunivant (Bryan Jordan 46’); Landon Donovan© (Paolo Cardozo 46’), David Beckham (Dan Keat 81’), Juninho (Michael Stephens 31’), Mike Magee (Hector Jimenez 56’); Adam Cristman (Miguel Lopez 46’), Robbie Keane (Jack McBean 61’).
Subs Not Used: Ryan Thomas, Gregg Berhalter, Dustin McCarty.
Indonesia Selection: Andritany (Kurnia Meiga 46’); Zulkifli Syukur (Hasim Kipuw 72’), Victor Igbonefo (Gunawan Dwi Cahyo 76’), Hamka Hamzah, Diego Michiels (M. Ilham 63’); Andik Vermansyah (Bambang Pamungkas 52’), Firman Utina© (Mahadirga Lasut 62’), Egi Melgiansyah, M. Ridwan; Greg Nwokolo (Oktovianus Maniani 62’), Patrick Wanganni.
Subs Not Used: Ahmad Bustomi, Christian Gonzales.
Referee: Faulur Rosy
Referee’s Assistants: Suhaidi Yunus and Riswanda
4th Official: Rettu Slamet Wijaya
Notes:
- This was the Galaxy’s first game of their Asia Pacific Tour 2011 and their first-ever game in Indonesia.
- The Galaxy are now 1-1-1 in international friendlies this year, having lost to Real Madrid and playing Manchester City to a 1-1 draw before falling on penalties. Both of those games were in July.
