CARSON, Calif. – Jelle Van Damme, playmaker?
Don’t laugh. The LA Galaxy’s burly defender, known more for his imposing presence on the back line than his offensive skills, had two assists in Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Orlando City in front of 27,167 at StubHub Center and showed no ill effects from a sprained left knee ligament that sidelined him for the last 2 1/2 games.
He was a force to be reckoned with as he helped the Galaxy recover from an early 1-0 deficit to remain unbeaten at home (8-0-7) this season and move into second place in the Western Conference, just four points behind front-running FC Dallas.
“He had a good game,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said of Van Damme. “He’s been a good player for us all year. He’s a real leader and obviously has a great presence on the field.”
The Galaxy clearly had missed that presence since he was subbed out in the 44th minute of a scoreless tie with Vancouver on Aug. 27 with what was diagnosed as a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Van Damme was told the recovery time would be at least 2-3 weeks, but the Belgian defender wouldn’t hear of it.
The 32-year-old was intent on returning sooner.
“I was like, ‘OK, let’s try for two,’ ” he said. “That’s just the way I am. I hate being injured. I think I did everything to come back as soon as possible.
“In my mind I always had this game in mind to come back.”
Orlando led 1-0 on a goal by Kevin Molino in the 20th minute, but Giovani Dos Santos tied it 15 minutes later after assists from Van Damme and Emmanuel Boateng. Van Damme and Dos Santos were at it again a minute later by assisting on Alan Gordon’s first goal of the season and the Galaxy were off and running.
Dos Santos made it 3-1 with a penalty kick in the 45th minute and Robbie Keane, making his first appearance since Aug. 20, scored his first goal in almost two months in the 70th minute. Orlando City’s Brek Shea closed out the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time.
Daniel Steres said it was good to get his central defense partner back in the lineup, and he was not surprised at his effectiveness going forward. Van Damme, after all, told reporters he was a striker in his younger playing days.
“We’ve been seeing that all year,” Steres said. “He’s good with his feet.”
Van Damme downplayed his performance.
“I think I had a good game,” he told reporters.
Arena went much farther in praising the Belgian international.
“He’s a great leader, a very good player and the team feeds off of him,” he said. “You could argue that he’s been our best player to date this year. He’s an important player to have on the field.”
