Oct 4, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan (10) celebrates after the game against Toronto FC at StubHub Center. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated Toronto FC with a final score of 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Well, it can be safe to say that Landon Donovan is the greatest footballer to ever play in Major League Soccer. Donovan set the regular season career assists record on Saturday night at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. in front of a crowd of 24,064. Donovan and Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy were tested by the playoff-hungry talent of Greg Vanney’s Toronto FC, but they didn’t buckle and they learned their lessons from prior meetings, shutting out the Reds, 3-0.
Hear from Bruce Arena following this emphatic result for LA.
It was another historic night, one that will be remembered for many years to come, and a night that may never happen again to any other team or any other player. As we continue reflecting on a journey for LA’s No. 10 that is about to enter its final phase, let’s take a look at the six things we learned, followed by player ratings, for Saturday night’s match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Toronto FC.
1. Robbie Keane makes a case for MVP
Robbie Keane is the Galaxy’s top goal scorer for a reason: he can finish and his leadership as captain is exemplary. Watch the one-touch passing from the Galaxy midfield leading to this goal from Keane. Marcelo Sarvas, who had a solid night out as a provider, delivered a perfect through ball to Keane for his 18th goal of the season.
But is Keane really deserving of the award? Tough question, Arena says.
“Listen, I think these things are difficult,” Arena said of the hype to the press. “And I hate, especially when it’s your player, it sounds like a little bit of home cooking for sure. In my view, he deserves to be Most Valuable Player in the league and there are a lot of other players in the league that have had very good performances this year but I think you step back and you look at it. I can’t see why people couldn’t conclude that Robbie is the Most Valuable Player in the league.”
2. Landon Donovan…activates God Mode to reach immortality
The second Keane goal is something that will be forever be etched in the minds of many an MLS fan. At approximately 8:04 p.m. PT/11:04 p.m. ET, history was made. Landon Donovan claimed both the regular season goal and assists records. Toronto FC goalkeeper Joe Bendik, who came up with a number of stops in a valiant losing effort, could only watch as Donovan’s activation of God Mode ripped apart Steve Ralston’s record to shreds…forever.
“To be honest, it wasn’t on my radar until the last month or so,” Donovan said. “It wasn’t overly realistic in my mind, but when the team plays like this it was just natural, and it seems like every time we get a chance, guys are either close to scoring or they’re scoring, so for me it’s been easy. My job is just to put the ball in a good spot. And with players like we have, it makes it easy.”
3. Alan Gordon: the Darshan Singh of the Los Angeles Galaxy
The Galaxy hung Toronto FC’s playoff chances like Sir John McDonald hung Louis Riel back in the day in Canada. But all hanging-style executions require a hangman. Here’s where Alan Gordon and Singaporean Darshan Singh share something in common: they execute their trades very well when they are on their game.
Key word: execution. The Galaxy were executing their defensive tenacity in the second half while Gordon executed his role as a target forward. Once upon a time, not too long ago, Gordon played for Toronto FC and scored a heartbreaker in StubHub Center against Los Angeles, culminating in a 2-2 draw.
Fast forward to now. It’s almost the same situation, just for the other team. Alan Gordon, late in stoppage time, dropped the proverbial trap door and finished off Toronto with a bang. Take a look.
“We keep saying it every time he comes on – when he comes on he scores,” Keane said of Gordon. “It just seems normal for him to come in and score a goal. It’s always good to have someone like that on your team. He works hard in training every day. He’s a big part of this team.
“He’s a big part of we are doing. If things aren’t going well for us, he’s a player that can come on and change things. His energy – the way he runs around. He’s a big man. Very, very good in the air. As you saw today, he’s really good with his feet also.”
“I’m just trying to do little things,” Gordon said. “It’s not like I broke a record, but with the team playing so well and the amount of talent around, it doesn’t stop. With Landon and Robbie , I think anybody would have chances.”
My personal opinion on this: Gordon’s road to redemption continues and the detractors among the Galaxy faithful are now deserving of being named to the endangered species list. I wouldn’t mind this extinction. Good riddance. Cheers to you, Taylor Swift.
Moving right along…
4. Jermain Defoe: A Bloody Big Mess
People in Toronto had the false pretense that Jermain Defoe was going to be A Bloody Big Deal for Toronto FC. Injuries and drama later, it’s turned into A Bloody Big Mess. Defoe came in off the bench in the second half and did deliver a rocket that was blocked, but he was kept in check and wasn’t really in tip-top shape.
Not that being in tip-top shape is the priority at this point, Vanney argues.
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“It was exactly what he needed,” Vanney said. “He needed thirty minutes, he needed to get his legs under him, he needed to get some touches, needed to catch the speed of play a little bit. So I don’t really need to rate him, it was exactly what we wanted to do, get him in the rhythm again and to keep building on his return.”
“It felt good to be back and get back on the pitch,” Defoe said. “Obviously it would’ve been better if we got a better result. But no pressure now, I feel good.
“Obviously there were parts in the second half where we played well, created some chances. And we just have to move on from today, there is an important game on Wednesday. I feel if I am going to take some positives out of the game, it’s probably the way we moved the ball the second half. But there are some big games coming up and we need to all stick together.”
5. Nick Hagglund: a beast in defense
Last weekend, Toronto defender Nick Hagglund was a hero in sparking their come-from-behind win over the Portland Timbers at BMO Field. This time, his defensive work neutralized the Galaxy attack on a constant basis.
“It’s very difficult for him starting out the game and he is learning,” said TFC defender Steven Caldwell. “He did very well tonight. Always very hard against good teams, you have to be patient and disciplined in your possession, also having lads up; by squeezing the line up at the right time so it’s a fine line between stepping into LA, and obviously being too deep. And I felt he did really well, he adjusted perfectly through the game and did the same the second half.”
6. Los Angeles provisionally have the best record in Major League Soccer
From a personal perspective, I am convinced that it will go down to the series between the Galaxy and Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders for the rights to the MLS Supporters’ Shield. Seattle are scheduled to take on Colorado today and can still remain first in the league by weekend’s end. But the Sounders must take care of business on their end.
“Put it this way, I rather be first and get the game over and be three points ahead,” Keane said, “than be playing tomorrow and chasing. I’m really happy with that. There is no question that it feels like we’ve been chasing for a while.
“We win and they win. Happy to be first. And, it feels like it’s definitely going to go down to the wire. No question.”
Team Statistics
| 13 | Shots | 13 |
| 7 | Shots on Target | 1 |
| 3 | Shots off Target | 4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 8 |
| 3 | Corners | 5 |
| 15 | Crosses | 19 |
| 1 | Offsides | 2 |
| 16 | Fouls | 8 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 570 | Total Passes | 441 |
| 86 % | Passing Accuracy | 81 % |
| 55.9 % | Possession | 44.1 % |
| 27 | Duels Won | 44 |
| 7 | Tackles Won | 9 |
| 1 | Saves | 4 |
| 23 | Clearances | 25 |
Los Angeles Galaxy Player Ratings
Jaime Penedo 6, A.J. DeLaGarza 7, Leonardo 7, Omar Gonzalez 7, Robbie Rogers NR, James Riley 7, Baggio Husidic 4, Juninho 6, Landon Donovan 8, Marcelo Sarvas 8.5, Gyasi Zardes 6, Robbie Keane 10, Stefan Ishizaki 5, Alan Gordon 7
Toronto FC Player Ratings
Joe Bendik 3, Justin Morrow 4, Nick Hagglund 7, Steven Caldwell 3, Warren Creavalle 4, Daniel Lovitz 4, Jonathan Osorio 3.5, Kyle Bekker 4, Michael Bradley 5, Dominic Oduro 4, Luke Moore 5, Jermain Defoe 5, Dwayne De Rosario 3, Collen Warner NR