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The Galaxy ended an almost year-long MLS road winless streak in the same venue they last won a game in league play, defeating the Colorado Rapids 3-1 Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
#LAGalaxy XI: Ricketts; DLG, Leonardo, Gonzalez, Rogers; Zardes, Juninho, Gerrard, Lletget; Keane, Gordon #COLvLA pic.twitter.com/S3xr0orbTB
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 2, 2015
Donovan Ricketts, acquired a day after Jaime Penedo left the club, started in goal for LA, while Gyasi Zardes was moved to the right wing.
Before flying out to Colorado, Keane hinted in training that perhaps the Galaxy needed to change their mentality on the road.
And yet, the first half was a largely frustrating affair for LA. The Galaxy gave up a soft goal early in the 12th minute when a haphazard clearance by Robbie Rogers landed in the middle of the pitch just outside the box, and Sam Cronin's poke at the ball deflected right to former player Marcelo Sarvas, who rounded Ricketts before firing into an empty net.
After the goal, the Rapids sat back with numbers, preventing LA from attacking from the wings and forcing the Galaxy into aimless crosses and half chances.
Despite a brutal wind that made passing more difficult, the Galaxy began to show signs of life in the 2nd half. Steven Gerrard was unfortunate when he perfectly brought down a Juninho corner kick inside the box, only for his attempt from close range to be blocked.
In the 56th minute, the Galaxy equalized. Juninho possessed the ball outside the area before cutting a pass inside for an open Lletget, and with time to spare, Lletget raced inside the box before unleashing a unstoppable rocket into the right corner.
With the Galaxy offense now in full swing, Keane was robbed when Alan Gordon brilliantly headed down a Steven Gerrard long ball to Keane in perfect stride, unfortunately his sweeping shot from point-blank range was improbably stopped by a sprawling Clint Irwin.
In the 69th minute, Steven Gerrard found space inside the box and popped a quick shot that Irwin saved, but the Rapids goalkeeper could only manage to paw the ball towards Alan Gordon's path, and Gordon only had a simple tap-in to double LA's lead.
Colorado pressed the Galaxy for an equalizer, but couldn't breach an organized LA defense. Ricketts did well in the 78th minute to knock down a Paul Ramirez shot for his only save of the match.
Robbie Keane secured the victory late when he stripped James Riley and headed down the field for what felt like an eternity waiting for support to arrive before laying the ball off for Gerrard, accepting a return pass and finishing a sliding shot that Irwin got a hand on but couldn't keep out of the net.
LA next head home to battle Central FC in CONCACAF Champions League group play before a matchup vs. the Sounders next weekend.