The game in 100 words (or less): A quad strain kept Frank Lampard out of the match for NYCFC, barring the much anticipated matchup of Lampard and Steven Gerrard. But the big names still delivered, as Robbie Keane scored twice and Giovani dos Santos scored another as the Los Angeles Galaxy dismantled NYCFC 5-1 in front of a sellout crowd at the StubHub Center. David Villa would score for NYC late in the game, but the match was already over at that point as the Galaxy’s offense dominated once again. Los Angeles became the first club in MLS history to score 1,000 goals.
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Three moments that mattered
36' -- Gyasi Zardes opens the scoring -- Los Angeles got on the board first thanks to some quick thinking off of a free kick. NYCFC’s defense was not ready when Robbie Keane whipped in a cross to a wide-open Gyasi Zardes, who headed the Galaxy into the lead.
54' -- Robbie Keane doubles the lead -- Giovani dos Santos played Robbie Keane in behind the NYC defense, and the reigning MLS MVP finished with a cool chip over Josh Saunders. At the time, the goal made it 12 in 10 games for the Galaxy captain (in the 81st minute, he would score another to make it 13 in 10).
67' -- Giovani dos Santos joins in on the party -- This time is was Keane to dos Santos, as the Mexican international got in behind the NYC defense and chipped over Josh Saunders in an eerily similar goal to Keane’s. This goal effectively ended the game.
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Man of the match: Robbie Keane -- Keane has been on a ridiculous run for the Galaxy, with his brace today making it 13 goals in 10 matches. Last season’s MLS MVP is not slowing down a bit.
LINEUPS
Los Angeles: Ricketts, Rogers, Leonardo, Gonzalez, DeLaGarza (Gargan, 74'), Zardes, Gerrard, Juninho, Lletget (Garcia, 82'), Keane, dos Santos
Goals: Zardes (34'), Keane (54', 81'), dos Santos (67'), Lletget (70')
New York City: Saunders, Angelino, Hernandez, Facey, Iraola, Pirlo (Mullins, 75'), Jacobson, McNamara (Grabavoy, 59'), Poku, Diskerud (Velasquez, 59'), Villa
Goal: Villa (80', PEN)