It was the usual suspects at the Stub Hub center for the CONCACAF Champions League match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and CS Cartiganes. The combination play between Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane proved to be the winning factor to Tuesday night in LA. Not only were Landon and Keane on par, but also the stalwart defensive display showed by Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin and the debutant Kofi Opare to help secure a shut out. Fairly strong display by a handful of said players proved to be the difference between the LA Galaxy and CS Cartiganes.

As the game kicked off at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, Bruce Arena introduced three young faces to starting line up in Carson. Michael Stephens was the oldest at 24 years old. Michael was able to gain a certain level of control on the game, but found it difficult to create any kind of attacking play going forward. Kofi Opare was the debutant of the night, and enjoyed a very strong defensive display in the back four alongside Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin and Todd Dunivant. Jose Villarreal was the youngest of the three at age 19, struggled to find his 1^st touch in the match. After 60 minutes it was enough for Bruce Arena to sub off Jose for Landon Donovan, who proved to be the creative factor to the game.

Much of the first half chances the Galaxy created were either scuffed due to a poor first touch or one too many touches inside the 18-yard box. Jose Villarreal could have put the galaxy in the lead in the 27^th minute but his first touch failed him. This resulted in Cartiganes goalkeeper Alfaro to easily smother the ball in his possession. Robbie Keane had the best opportunity of the first half, having taken one too many touches inside the 18-yard box; Alfaro again came up on top. As time progressed towards halftime, Robbie Rogers suffered a strained hamstring in the 44^th minute and was subbed off for Gyasi Zardes.

In the 2^nd half, Zardes did have a small amount of influence on the game, but not in the creating factor, which the Galaxy lacked a fair portion through out the pitch, creating clear-cut chances. The deadlock was finally broken in the 66^th minute when Donovan carefully picked out Robbie Keane on a pass into the 18-yard box and Keane was able to force the ball through Alfaro on his third touch. Towards the end it was déjà vu, but this time Donovan was able to find Keane on the through ball in the attacking half of the field and Keane cleverly chipped it past Alfaro in the 91^st minute.

The Galaxy walked away from this fixture with all 3 points, but at a small price with the injury to Robbie Rogers. At the moment the LA Galaxy sit first in their group equal with points with Cartiganes, ahead on goals and with a game in hand. Bruce Arena would note his team’s lack of attacking creativity from the midfield until Landon got on the pitch. Even though Omar Gonzalez and Sean Franklin had decent passes from the back of the field for chances but none were capitalized on. With Landon’s presence in the midfield provided the creative spark the Galaxy needed to make goals. Donovan was able to trigger the runs and connections with Robbie Keane. As an outcome Keane made two goals from Donovan’s passes. With them the Los Angeles Galaxy are at the top of the table with a superior goal differential and a game in hand.