COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Alan Gordon opened his LA Galaxy account with the equalizing goal in LA’s dramatic 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rapids and in doing so may have earned himself a larger role in the team’s offense going forward.
Upon entering the match at the 65 minute mark, Gordon’s abilities as an agitator up front was immediately felt as he tormented Colorado defenders Marvell Wynne and Grant Van de Casteele. Minutes later, he collected a pass from Omar Gonzalez, which he deftly slotted past Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin to pull LA level.
The comeback was finally complete in the 80th minute on Landon Donovan’s winner.
“When this team was down at halftime, we knew that we could do better than this. We’re way too talented to be beat like this, it was disappointment as first and then rallying together as a squad to get back into the game,” Gordon told LA Galaxy Insider after the match. “It’s important to be able to win tough games. This was a tough game and it takes a hell of an effort to win a game like this.”
Working alongside Robbie Keane, Gordon’s physical presence allowed the Irishman to drop back into midfield to facilitate attacks.
It was Gordon’s tenacity that helped spark the game-winner when he won the ball in midfield then played the ball to Keane who found Donovan for the fourth goal.
“He gives us a different dimension,” Keane said after the win.
“The reason that he’s in the game, regardless of how you play [to start the game], if you’re losing the game, every team in the world simply kicks the ball forward as quick as they can and tries to play off a big man. We certainly did that tonight. It’s always good to have different [weapons] that give other teams things to think about.”
With 12 games remaining in the season, the use of a Keane-Gordon partnership is likely in certain spells, but the former Earthquakes striker insists that he’s yet to hit his full stride alongside LA’s dynamic Irishman.
“He’s obviously a top-notch striker and it’s going to be a learning curve playing with someone with that type of experience and his movement,” said Gordon. “I’m going to have to get used to it a little bit and listen to what he says so that I can play off him.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
