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LA Galaxy hold on to defeat New England Revolution 4-2

By Mike Gray
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Led by yet another Gio golazo, the Galaxy put away three first-half goals before holding on to defeat the New England Revolution 4-2 Sunday afternoon at the StubHub Center.

After five weeks on the sideline recovering from knee surgery, Robbie Keane returned to the lineup.

And it didn't take Keane long to get going. In the 13th minute, Gyasi Zardes probed the right touchline before squaring a sharp cross across the box, and Keane took advantage of a sleepy New England defense, ghosting to the far post to put away a tap-in.

New England's attack was still chugging however, and Kelyvn Rowe should have done better after receiving a cross alone in the box but his stop was tame and straight at Rowe.

Then, this happened.

A weak Scott Caldwell clearance went straight to the path of Gio, and the El Tri international did not hesistate, snapping an unstoppable rocket into the net as Shuttleworth could only flail at the ball.

The ruthless Galaxy attack added a third right before halftime: On the counter-attack, dos Santos received the ball with time and space and patiently waited before finding Zardes to the left, and in a reverse sequence on the first goal, Zardes squaring a low cross to Keane for a tap-in at the right post.

The second half started off lackadaisical for both teams, and you might have been forgiven for thinking the contest was over. 

Not for New England, who stunned LA with a pair of stunning goals within minutes. First Kelyvn Role roofed a shot into the corner from the top of the box, then Juan Agudelo expertly re-directed a headed cross into the net to bring the Revolution back in a hurry.

And In the 83rd minute, some neat passing in the Galaxy box resulted in Agudelo clanging a left footed shot off the crossbar to strike fear into Galaxy fans.

However, substitute Steven Gerrard secured the victory in stoppage time, finishing off a breakaway by scooping a finish over a beleaguered Shuttleworth.

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