Landon Donovan's return from retirement was the big story at StubHub Center on Sunday, butGiovani dos Santos shone brightest as the LA Galaxy routed Orlando City SC 4-2 on the strength of another dominating performance from LA's Mexican star.
Kevin Molino snatched an early lead against the run of play for Orlando, only for dos Santos to spearhead a relentless Galaxy response that pushed the home side into a 3-1 halftime lead and effectively snuffed out the Lions' resistance.
Robbie Keane came off the bench to net a fourth, and was soon followed by Donovan, wearing the unfamiliar No. 26 and earning a warm ovation on his return to MLS after a year and a half out of the game.
Orlando substitute Brek Shea slammed home a clinical finish to provide the visitors with a modest consolation in injury time. But this evening belonged to the men in white.
LA Galaxy Postgame Notes
LA Galaxy 4, Orlando City SC 2
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016
2016 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, California
Scoring Summary:
ORL – Kevin Molino 20’
LA – Giovani dos Santos (Assisted by Emmanuel Boateng, Jelle Van Damme) 35’
LA – Alan Gordon (Assisted by Jelle Van Damme, Giovani dos Santos) 38’
LA – Giovani dos Santos (penalty) 45’
LA – Robbie Keane (Assisted by Giovani dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget) 70’
ORL – Brek Shea 90’+2
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Rafael Garcia (caution) 45’+2
ORL – Tony Rocha (caution) 48’
LA – Ashley Cole (caution) 55’
ORL – David Mateos (caution) 60’
LA – Raul Mendiola (caution) 75’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme (A.J. DeLaGarza 74’), Ashley Cole; Raul Mendiola (Landon Donovan 83’), Sebastian Lletget, Rafael Garcia, Emmanuel Boateng; Giovani dos Santos; Alan Gordon © (Robbie Keane 60’)
Substitutions not used: Dan Kennedy, Jeff Larentowicz, Baggio Husidic, Mike Magee.
Head Coach: Bruce Arena
SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; CORNERS: 4; OFFSIDES: 5; SAVES: 1
Orlando City SC: Joe Bendik; Kevin Alston, Jose Ala, David Mateos, Luke Boden; Servando Carrasco, Matias Perez Garcia, Kevin Molino (Carlos Rivas 62’), Antonio Nocerino (Tony Rocha 66’); Kaka © (Brek Shea 74’), Cyle Larin
Substitutions not used: Seb Hines, Julio Baptista, Earl Edwards, Tommy Redding.
Head Coach: Jason Kreis
SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; CORNERS: 4; OFFSIDES: 2; SAVES: 0
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Referee’s Assistants: Matthew Nelson and Ian Anderson
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 27,167
