CARSON, Calif. – It’s been a challenging summer so far for the struggling LA Galaxy, but the five-time MLS Cup champions may have found a bright spot in the club’s recent run.
Goalkeeper Jon Kempin, signed as a free agent in early March, appears to have nailed down the starting spot at his position despite the Galaxy’s latest defeat, a 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday in this season’s final edition of the California Clasico in front of 19,237 at StubHub Center.
Kempin has started the last two games and has allowed five goals in the process, but his play has been solid despite the results. Sunday, for example, he made eight saves to keep the Galaxy in it until the Earthquakes scored twice in the final 10-plus minutes to win going away. He also was up to the task last Wednesday in Columbus, where he stopped two penalty kicks in a 2-0 loss.
The Galaxy (6-14-5) may be on the verge of seeing their playoff chances dwindle away, but Kempin has been impressive in an otherwise disappointing season.
“He’s definitely earned the right to continue to be the starting goalkeeper,” Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid said Sunday.
That’s welcome news for the 24-year-old Kempin, who joined the team during training camp and was thought to be nothing more than a potential backup to Brian Rowe and Clement Diop, who were expected to battle it out for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.
But Kempin appears to have passed both of them for the time being, and he admitted he couldn’t be happier. Aside from the losing, of course.
“Anytime you give up three goals, you’re unhappy, right?” he said Sunday. “Anytime you lose you’re unhappy. My job as a goalkeeper is to make saves and keep us in it.”
Kempin came to the Galaxy with pedigree as he was Sporting Kansas City’s first Homegrown Player when he signed in August of 2010 and even was called up to the U.S. national team January camp of former head coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2015.
Kempin said getting the nod in goal lately has been rewarding, but it’s something he’d been hoping for all along.
“I want to play,” he said. “We have three great goalkeepers here and we’re challenging each other. If Sigi chooses me every week, great. I want to play, but I also want to win.”
Kempin cautioned to not count out the Galaxy yet.
“Nine games left,” he said. “We get three points in each, that’s 27 points and we’re in the playoffs. Even six wins and we’re in the playoffs.
“We’re going to go into practice Tuesday and work hard at it and look at the next game (Sept. 2 at home against Colorado) and get three points."
