CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Rogers returned to the LA Galaxy’s starting lineup in Saturday’s scoreless draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps at StubHub Center and proved to be a welcome addition to a team that has been struggling lately.
The nine-year veteran was impressive at his right back position and was one of the few bright spots for the five-time MLS Cup champions who are winless in their last six games (0-1-5).
Rogers was making his first start since June 2 and was effective in his frequent forays into Vancouver’s final third of the field. He surprisingly played the full game, although not necessarily by his own choice.
“It was tough, the first game back,” he admitted after the game, “but I’m surprised I lasted 90.”
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said he would have taken Rogers out at the 70-minute mark, but first-half substitutions to the injured Steven Gerrard and Jelle Van Damme and another sub in the second half for Gyasi Zardes, who also was hurt, ruined those plans.
Rogers, who had been recovering from ankle surgery, played for the Galaxy’s reserve team, Galaxy II, last week. But he hadn’t seen any time with the first team until Saturday.
“It was good to get him back,” Arena said. “He was a little rusty, but I thought he did a good job of hanging in there.”
Forward Alan Gordon, who also went the full 90, praised Rogers’ work ethic.
“Robbie doing his thing,” Gordon said. “It was good to have him back … he charges up and down that line.
“As he gets more and more fit and comfortable out there, he’s going to be good for us down the stretch.”
Goalkeeper Brian Rowe, who made his first start since suffering a head wound against Colorado on Aug. 13, said Rogers was particularly sharp.
“He looked great,” Rowe said. “He said he felt a little sore afterwards; if that’s sore I don’t know. He still looked fast out there. I thought he did a really good job.
“I’m not sure if they wanted him to go the full 90 or not. Making the two subs in the first half and having Gyasi come off kind of put us in a bad situation. But he did a great job getting up and down the line.”
Midfielder Sebastian Lletget, whose speed posed plenty of problems for the Whitecaps on Saturday, also praised his teammate on the right side of the Galaxy’s formation. Arena might have said Rogers appeared rusty, but Lletget good-naturedly begged to differ.
“I don’t think so at all,” he said with a grin. “He came in and he was saying he could have been a little sharper, but I told him he was fantastic. I just think he’s a little hard on himself.
“We all know he’s a hard worker and having him back is awesome. I’m probably his biggest fan, to be honest. I rate him really high and it always seems like we’re on the same wavelength.
“If we see more of him and he stays fit I think he’ll be huge for us.”
