Los Angeles Galaxy’s Robbie Keane returns in style
Nov 3, 2013; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane (7) in the second half of the Western Conference Semifinal Leg 1 game against Real Salt Lake at StubHub Center. Galaxy won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane returned to the lineup after offseason injury and shined in their 2-0 victory over UCLA in a closed-door friendly at StubHub Center. Chandler Hoffman scored in the first half and Keane converted a 62nd-minute penalty while being lined up alongside Samuel.
“Felt good. Felt sharp,” Keane told MLSSoccer.com’s Scott French. “I’m only going to get stronger as the more games we’re going to play, but I think I played well. I look forward to Saturday’s game [against LA Galaxy II].
“I thought [my touch] was very good, actually. I’m very happy. It was my first real game in three months — I was very, very happy. Some good touches, some good movements. Scored, obviously, so I felt very good.
“The last 10 minutes, with the [warm] weather and your first game — the first 35 minutes were very good, felt sharp. The last 10 minutes, just keeping the ball, going through the motions a little bit. That’s to be expected.”
“Robbie needed it,” said Galaxy manager Bruce Arena. “That’s his first run this year. We’ve got to build on that. Definitely [he was rusty], to be expected. His fitness isn’t there yet, he’s got to get his touch a little bit cleaner, but it was a good first time on the field.”
“Having him just doubled our team,” said forward Rob Friend of Keane. “He brings so much, and this is the first time I saw him in a game. I’m so excited to play with him. He brings so much into the team offensively. We need a guy like that combining and making those final passes. Every pass of his is very dangerous.
“As a striker, it’s a dream to play with a guy like that.”
Keane thinks he will be paired up with the Brazilian, on loan from, Fluminense and he thinks the transition will be smooth.
“I just need to see someone play once to get a feel for them,” Keane said of his partnership with Samuel. “I have a good feel for what he likes and his movements and where he likes the ball.”
Meanwhile, defender James Riley is confident he will make an impression on Arena when March comes. Riley is battling for a roster spot alongside Dan Gargan, whom he carpools with to practice at StubHub Center.
“When the Galaxy calls you don’t really think about it too much,” Riley told LAGalaxy.com’s Larry Morgan. “My agent told me to be prepared for my opportunity and take hold of it. That’s been kind of my mind-set. It went on a little bit longer than I thought, but it worked out for the best.
“This is a great challenge, especially at this stage of my career and coming to a club like this. Having an opportunity to come to the Galaxy, and the urgency even for practices … you kind of get that nervous feeling and you want to do well, especially for games.”
“At various points of the season we’ll be playing other defenders, and having a player with his experience is a real plus,” Arena added. “I think last year we had to start some young players in those spots and they perhaps weren’t ready.
“This year we have a guy we would anticipate his experience is going to be a little better-suited to step in and help us right away.”