CARSON, Calif. – That was more like it, as far as the LA Galaxy’s Jeff Larentowicz was concerned.
The 12-year veteran not only was in the starting lineup but scored his first goal in almost a year in Monday’s 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in front of a sellout crowd of 27,167 at StubHub Center.
“That’s the goal, to be in the lineup, to help us win games. I think all those things came together tonight,” the veteran midfielder said. “In the lineup, scored the goal and we won.
“That was good.”
The season hasn’t always been so upbeat for the 32-year-old who signed with the five-time MLS Cup champions during the offseason after spending the last three seasons with the Chicago Fire. Larentowicz had sports hernia surgery last November and didn’t make his first start – in place of Nigel De Jong, who was out with a groin injury -- for the Galaxy until a 4-2 victory over the New England Revolution on May 8.
He started and went the full 90 minutes against Toronto on June 18, went the distance in San Jose a week later and also last Wednesday in Portland for a U.S. Open Cup match.
Larentowicz teamed up with De Jong on Monday to give the Galaxy a strong, defensive presence against the Whitecaps and even scored his first goal since last Sept. 11, when he was a member of the Fire.
He admitted he couldn’t remember the last time he scored.
“Not sure,” he said. “Last season? OK, every season’s not bad.”
Larentowicz headed in a corner kick by Steven Gerrard that gave the Galaxy a 2-0 lead in the 47th minute. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder said the goal was nothing special, although he may have been aided by his well-placed shove to the back of Vancouver’s Jordan Harvey on the play.
“Pretty straight forward,” Larentowicz said. “Stevie played the ball to the back post, it came over (Harvey’s) head. I think I got away with a push.”
Reporters nodded their heads as he recounted the play.
“You guys agree?” he asked with a grin. “OK, I got away with a push. I scored the goal.”
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena was impressed with the veteran’s performance.
“He had a good, solid game,” he said. “I wasn’t happy with the first half. I thought he could have been a little better with the ball, a little more aggressive getting around the ball. I thought the second half was good for him.
“He’s done a real good job for us. He’s played 90 minutes in San Jose, 90 minutes against Portland the other night, 90 minutes tonight. He’s put some good shifts in.”
Larentowicz said he likes the combination of him and De Jong, who was red-carded in the 74th minute for a tackle on Blas Perez and will miss Saturday’s game in Seattle.
“I think we’re learning. I think we complement each other when we can,” Larentowicz said. “You kind of learn as you go.
“I thought tonight was a positive step.”
