If the LA Galaxy are to lift the 2015 MLS Cup come December — it would be their fourth league title in five years — they will undoubtedly be led to glory by their newly joined striker partnership of Robbie Keane (the reigning MLS MVP) and Giovani dos Santos (signed for $7 this summer).
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Thus far, the partnership is off to a flying start. In three games played together (235 minutes), Keane and Dos Santos have combined for seven goals and six assists (the Galaxy have scored 10 goals in three games). Obviously there is much crossover among the two players’ assists and goals, as they often assist one another directly.
During Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing of New York City FC, Keane and Dos Santos were as in sync — if not more so — than what we’ve come to know and love from Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. On Keane’s first goal (above video), it was Dos Santos dragging opposing defenders out wide to create space in the right attacking channel. Dos Santos played the simple through ball and Keane beat the ‘keeper one on one.
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Later in the game, with the result well in hand already, Keane returned the favor. This time, the Irishman played the role of provider, received the pass from Gyasi Zardes, turned up field, pulled the only center back with a chance of making a play into no-man’s land, and played the pass for Dos Santos to, yet again, race in on goal unopposed.
For his two-goal, two-assist performance against NYCFC, Robbie Keane is our MLS Player of the Week for a second straight week.
MLS Players of the Week
Week 1: Tyler Deric, Houston Dynamo
Week 2: Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes
Week 3: Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls
Week 4: Kaka, Orlando City SC
Week 5: Harrison Shipp, Chicago Fire
Week 6: Jaime Penedo, LA Galaxy
Week 7: Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas
Week 8: Ethan Finlay, Columbus Crew SC
Week 9: Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas
Week 10: Mauro Diaz, FC Dallas
Week 11: Chad Barrett, Seattle Sounders
Week 12: Kei Kamara, Columbus Crew SC
Week 13: Krisztian Nemeth, Sporting Kansas City
Week 14: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
Week 15: David Villa, New York City FC
Week 16: Matias Perez Garcia, San Jose Earthquakes
Week 17: Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers
Week 18: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
Week 21: Cyle Larin, Orlando City SC
Week 23: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
Week 24: Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy
