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LA Galaxy rout PSA Elite in U.S. Open Cup, advance to round of 16

Robbie Keane hat trick propels Galaxy to easy win

By Mike Gray
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Update: LA will play the San Jose Earthquakes for a shot at the quarterfinals.

The LA Galaxy routed amateur side PSA Elite 6-1 Wednesday night in fourth-round U.S. Open Cup play.

Bruce Arena decided to go with usual starters Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes up top, with Raul Mendiola playing on the left wing, Sebastian Lletget and Kenny Walker in the middle and Nacho Maganto starting on the right. Omar Gonzalez and Tommy Meyer paired at centerback, with Rafael Garcia assigned to the left back position and Oscar Sorto at right back.

PSA Elite were active early, dropping back deep and using quick combination play to effectively counter-attack and requiring the Galaxy to do more emergency defending than Bruce would like.

After a few close scares, Michael Salazar put PSA ahead in the 11th minute when he raced down the field, executed a perfect give-and-go with Jose Carrera-Garcia to find himself alone on goal and fired past Rowe inside the box, giving PSA the shock lead.

The lead didn't last long however. After Robbie Keane missed an opportunity from close range, on the ensuing corner kick Sebestian Lletget nodded down a header inside the six-yard box that was ruled to be a goal after the ball richoched off the crossbar into the ground.

The Galaxy doubled their lead in the 19th minute, as a sublime flick by Maganto found Robbie Keane on the sideline, who made no mistake squaring to Zardes for an easy tap-in.

Though PSA bravely fought in the opening 20 minutes, once the Galaxy took the lead their confidence drained as they were forced to defend deep the rest of the half.

In the 29th minute, Lletget played a beautiful ball over the top of the PSA defense to the onrushing Maganto, who nodded down for Keane to capitalize on another easy finish.

The second half was more of the same, as LA's superior fitness began to show and PSA Elite were content with just hanging on.

Robbie Keane scored his second thanks to a bit of clever work by Jose Villarreal, as the second-half substitute quickly floated a free kick over a sleeping back four directly to Robbie Keane's noggin, and Keane did the rest.

Keane completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute, as the hard working Lletget dribbled near the post before chipping to the Irishman for another easy header.

Finally, Baggio Husidic bagged a late goal, as Sorto squared a low cross that somehow made its way to the back post, where Husidic was waiting to tap-in.

The Galaxy will advance to the round of 16, where they will battle one of three possible geographical rivals.

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