CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Rogers was back on the field for the LA Galaxy on Tuesday night after failing to make Bruce Arena's 18-man game rosters in the past two MLS games, and his first 40 minutes of the CONCACAF Champions League clash with Cartaginés were as encouraging as they could be.
But then a ball was cleared into space up the right wing, and Rogers went in pursuit. He felt a pinch in his left hamstring, and suddenly he was back to where he started: still struggling on a hit-and-miss search to find his old form.
“I'm not sure [how bad it is] ...,” he said following the Galaxy's 2-0 victory at the StubHub Center. “It didn't feel like an extreme pain. I just felt it tear a little bit. It's frustrating.”
Rogers offered much of what he's shown since signing with LA at the end of May before he was subbed out for youngster Gyasi Zardes: some nice runs and combination play, a few crosses of varying success, a hint at absent dynamism.
Still, Arena expressed some concern that Rogers could be set for another step back while he tries to crack the Galaxy lineup.
“I would have liked to seen a little bit more in the second half,” Arena said, “but it was good to get him back on the field. I think the injury's going to set him back a little bit.”
Rogers said he'd undergo an MRI exam, either Wednesday or Thursday, and “just go from there.”
“He did OK,” said Landon Donovan, who came off the bench in the second half to set up both of Robbie Keane's goals. “And then it sucks to get hurt. He's been waiting for a chance to get back on the field, and it sucks, but that's an unfortunate part of sport.”
Rogers agreed.
“It's really frustrating,” he said. “And, obviously, things happen for a reason, but sometimes you ask, 'What's the lesson in this?' I don't know, just going to keep my head up, and hopefully the MRI isn't too bad and I can continue training and do fitness and stuff like that.
“I don't think I'll be out too long. I think maybe a few weeks.”
