California

LA Galaxy Convert Penalty, Defeat Real Salt Lake 1-0

Juninho converted a penalty kick in the 7th minute and the LA Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Wednesday.

CARSON, Calif. – Reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane is 2-0 since his return to the pitch last Friday, and the LA Galaxy could not be more grateful for it. Keane made his second appearance in as many matches on Wednesday and the Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0.

Juninho converted a penalty in the 7th minute after a handball by Jamison Olave. Nick Rimando the Real Salt Lake keeper, rejected the Brazilian midfielder a few weeks ago in Utah on a rain-soaked night. On that occasion, Juninho went right and was denied the game-winning goal by Rimando.

"I wouldn't tell you if he did give me a different look than last time," Rimando said. "Bottom line, he put in this time, I saved it last time."

On Wednesday, both Rimando and Juninho remembered that ill fated meeting of the minds, and this time Juninho waited for Rimando to dive to his left again, while he buried the ball into the bottom left corner of the net for the goal.

"It felt so good afterwards," Juninho said. "I knew I had to score this time against [Rimando]. This time I hit it hard and low and could help my teammates get a win tonight."

Keane replaced Jose Villarreal to start the second half, as LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena slowly increases the Irish striker's minutes over the next few matches.

"I think I said it three weeks ago, I see this team kicking on," Keane said. "Still have players to come in, and still players that aren't fully fit either. So we are going in the right direction.

Other than the penalty kick early in the match, there wasn't a whole lot of action by either team. Both keepers made a single save apiece and surprisingly, Real Salt Lake won the battle of possession, a statistic that is usually dominated by the Galaxy, especially when Keane is on the field.


Game Notes:
Midfielder Stefan Ishizaki did not dress for the match as he was ill with the stomach flu. Robbie Rogers also did not play as he recovers from an injury.
 

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