Carson, CA (Sports Network) - After winning just three times in its first 13
games, the Los Angeles Galaxy is starting to hit its stride.
Saturday's convincing 3-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC is the club's
third successive win, and it came courtesy of a dominant first half.
Mike Magee scored the opening goal after 16 minutes before Robbie Keane
doubled the Galaxy's lead on the half-hour mark.
Landon Donovan then converted a penalty kick shortly before halftime, giving
L.A. a commanding lead that was never in doubt after the break.
The opener arrived from a David Beckham corner kick as the ball took a number
of deflections before ending up on goal. Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon did
his best to keep the ball from crossing the goal line, but Magee was on hand
to smash home the rebound from a few yards.
Donovan could have scored a hat trick in the first half, but after stealing
the ball from Whitecaps defender Jay DeMerit in the offensive third, he pulled
his shot wide with only Cannon to beat.
The Galaxy continued to control the game and Donovan played provider in the
30th minute when he slid a pass into the penalty area for Keane, who eluded a
trio of Vancouver defenders before rolling his shot past Cannon.
The chances continued to fall to Donovan as he was played in on goal in the
32nd minute, but watched his effort strike the post.
DeMerit's night got worse a few minutes before halftime when Keane's shot
struck his arm inside the box, giving Donovan the chance to send Cannon the
wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 3-0 to the hosts.
Vancouver failed to register a shot on goal in the first half and the second
wasn't much better for the Canadian side offensively, although the Galaxy
didn't see as much of Cannon's net after the break.
The Whitecaps were on a five-game unbeaten run prior to Saturday's match, but
it came to a crashing halt at The Home Depot Center.
The Sports Network