CARSON, Calif. – Slump? What Slump.
LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane roared back to life by scoring two goals and notching two assists in the Galaxy’s 5-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday evening at StubHub Center. The goals have been a long time coming for the Irishman who had not scored since LA’s May 25th victory over the Philadelphia Union.
The scoreless drought was Keane’s longest since midway through the 2013 season when the striker went five league matches without hitting the back of the net.
But was the goalless streak wearing on the Galaxy captain?
“I didn’t even know that. It shows you how much that I was thinking about it. I couldn’t care less,” Keane quipped to reporters after the match.
“I felt the same [way that I felt against RSL], over the weekend I felt I should’ve scored one and did a little bit better,” he added. “I felt really, really sharp tonight. I had the freedom to play, to get on the ball, drop off, and make things happen. I’ve been doing that since I’ve come here so it’s always nice to play that way, that’s the way I enjoy playing.”
While Keane brushed off any talk that he was frustrated by his inability to find the back of the net, Landon Donovan shed some light on the forward’s mindset after the victory.
“We were all really happy for him. It wears on him when he doesn’t score. He scored so many goals in his life, when he doesn’t score, it’s tough,” said Donovan. “He has been doing a lot of good things the last few games. He has done a lot of things that helped us win. Now it was good to see him get rewarded. He fully deserves it.”
Keane’s goals started and capped off the Galaxy’s most successful scoring output since last October. The Irishman gave LA the lead after 10 minutes by cutting past the Revolution defense and then launching a shot into the top right corner. The 34-year-old striker completed his stellar night in the 78th minute by capitalizing on a Revs turnover before strolling past New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttlesworth and tapping it into an empty net.
“He’s picked it up over the last two or three weeks. Robbie is going to score goals and strikers at time get into a bit of a slump, they go scoreless a while, but there is never a doubt in our minds that Robbie will produce goals for us,” said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “Whether it’s directly from him, or assisting, we know he is going to be in and around the goal and be dangerous. So it was just a matter of time he hit the back of the net again.”
Now that goals are starting to come for him and the rest of the team, Keane believes that the club is primed for a run up the table—starting with Saturday’s clash against reigning MLS Cup winner Sporting Kansas City.
“We certainly have the confidence in the team now with the players that can go on and win games,” said Keane. “I think you’ve seen the old Galaxy team, passing, dribbling the ball, creating chances for people, and that’s the way we like to play.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
