MLS: Steven Gerrard inspires LA Galaxy to Vancouver victory
Tuesday 5 July 2016 10:31, UK
Steven Gerrard set up both goals as LA Galaxy eased to a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Monday night.
Gerrard teed up Robbie Keane and Jeff Larentowicz as Galaxy, who survived Nigel Jong's 74th-minute dismissal - ended a seven-game winless run to move fourth in the Western Conference rankings.
Keane, back in MLS action after international duty with the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2016, opened the scoring just 12 minutes in when he controlled a Gerrard pass and curled into the top right corner.
Galaxy had not scored in more than six hours but after Keane's breakthrough, Larentowicz gave them a cushion two minutes after the restart when he headed home the former England international's corner.
De Jong saw red - his second of the season - for a lunging tackle on Blas Perez but though the Whitecaps threatened a fightback, Galaxy 'keeper Brian Rowe stood firm, three saves in the final 15 minutes sealing his fourth clean sheet of the campaign.
Elsewehere former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard kept a clean sheet on his debut for Colorado Rapids, who played out a goalless draw against Portland Timbers.
Howard made two fine saves against the reigning champions as Colorado stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games, despite being usurped by FC Dallas at the Western Conference summit.
Dallas moved a point clear of the Rapids - despite having played two games more - after a 4-0 rout of Orlando City.
Walker Zimmerman and Michael Barrios had out Dallas 2-0 up by half-time, before Matt Hedges and Fabian Castillo added gloss after the break.
