From Landon Donovan stuck to Robbie Keane facing an old friend, the LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps will take a rather grand stage at StubHub Center Saturday evening
The LA Galaxy‘s Landon Donovan is still in search of his record-breaking 135th goal while red-hot Robbie Keane greets a familiar friend now foe who will be on the Vancouver Whitecaps sideline Saturday night at StubHub Center.
Oh yeah, there is also a match to be played at 7:30 P.M in said StubHub Center.
The early-season clash seems to be secondary in this whirlwind of story-lines surrounding both these clubs that aren’t really rivals or resembling anything close to being one on the horizon.
All Galaxy (1-1-1) fans simply want to see that moment when Donovan finally gets the monkey off his back this campaign and stand alone atop the MLS career goals mountain (currently tied with Jeff Cunningham at 134).
Especially at StubHub Center, where Donovan has scored 61 of his 134 career goals within the confines of Carson, California.
However this year has been rough sledding for the American, having been kept off the goal sheet all year even after the Galaxy’s 3-0 thumping of neighbor Chivas USA for their first MLS win of the season on April 6.
If there is some solace for Donovan is that he scored in his last meeting against Vancouver on August 24, 2013 that resulted in a 1-0 Galaxy victory.
Keane’s part in all this is that his former teammate and longtime friend Carl Robinson is the manager for Vancouver entering his first season with the club.
Keane and Robinson both played for England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers back in 1997 (originally paired in 1995 but didn’t debut until 97’) and have been close friends ever since.
The Whitecaps (2-1-2) will indeed be a test for the scorching Keane, who has four goals in his last three matches. Vancouver however lost their unbeaten streak in their last match with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on April 5.
The Galaxy are 6-1-1 all-time against the Whitecaps, including a 2-1 edge for the Galaxy last year. Surprisingly enough, both clubs shared an equal amount of goals through those three matches (4-4).
Additional Notes: L.A’s A.J. DeLaGarza is likely taking Todd Dunivant’s position at left back as Dunivant will not play due to an abdominal ailment (according to Galaxy insider Adam Serrano). DeLaGarza has been out for close to three weeks with an ankle contusion but would be a significant boost to the defensive front if he’s able to go.
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