Robbie Keane had a hat trick and Sebastian Lletget added another in second half injury time to send Toronto FC back home with their tails between their legs and a 4-0 loss.
The Los Angeles Galaxy needed just nine minutes to find the opener as Lletget was taken down in the box by Warren Creavalle and Keane converted from the spot. The Irishman would score two more in the 41st and 59th minute, to see out the hat trick.
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“No such thing as an easy hat trick,” Keane said following the match.
“I wish it was, if that was the case I’d score a hat trick every week. You have to finish them. You have to be in the right place at the right time. When opportunities are like that, just be ready.”
Keane now has six goals and four assists from 11 matches this season.
Toronto on the other hand, were missing four starters in the likes of Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Jonathan Osorio, and Ashtone Morgan, who are all away on international duty, preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Morgan’s absence may have been the most felt by the Reds in California, with his replacement, Warren Creavalle, at fault for both first half goals.
“There were far too many mistakes on both sides of the ball to be able to come into this stadium against this team and get a result,” said Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney immediately after the game.
“A lot of things defensively and offensively were just too loose. They are a good team. They are an experienced team and they exploited the weaknesses we had on the day for sure so credit to them.”
Rookie, Jay Chapman, got his first MLS start on Saturday, and even though the team were embarrassed 4-0, the midfielder did not have a particularly bad game.
“I think it was okay from my personal stand point but obviously I would like to have got the win with my first start” the 21-year-old told media on Saturday night.
“Personally I think I did alright. I didn’t do good enough obviously because we lost but it’s a full team performance it’s not just defensive mistakes guys like me have to score and I have to be better. For my first start it’s okay for me but I am not satisfied yet.”
With the win, Los Angeles climbed to third place in the West, with 31 points from 21 matches. The Galaxy won’t be in MLS action again until July 17th against San Jose, but will take on Mexican side, Club America, in the International Champions Cup next Saturday, and Real Salt Lake on July 14th in the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
Toronto FC will travel to New York City next Sunday to play New York City FC, in what will likely be Frank Lampard’s first match in MLS.