CARSON, Calif. -- Robbie Keane will be missing when the LA Galaxy trek to Texas for this weekend's showdown with FC Dallas, and there's no question the Irishman -- one of the frontrunners for MLS's MVP honor this season -- will be missed.
It's not much of an issue in Galaxy camp, not with Alan Gordon ready to step in.
The veteran forward has been superb since arriving from San Jose in a mid-August trade, helping LA (17-5-9) go 8-1-2 while scoring four goals off the bench and creating three more in four starts.
Gordon, perhaps MLS's longest-serving “super sub,” is projected to start next to Gyasi Zardes while Keane is away with Ireland's national team for Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany, and he expects to provide what he usually does.
“I think, generally, maybe sometimes it's easier to come off the bench, because you have fresher legs, so I've been able to take advantage of that,” Gordon said as LA prepared for Sunday's game (7 pm ET, ESPN2), their last before the season-ending, Supporters' Shield-deciding, home-and-home series with Seattle. “I think I'm the same player starting or coming off the bench. ...
“I come out hard and I change the game in my own way, even as a starter, but [when you start] you're setting the tone as opposed to changing it [off the bench].”
Gordon has come off the bench seven times, scoring the tying goal in a 4-3 win over Colorado on Aug. 20, the equalizer in a Sept. 10 draw with Montreal, the late winner in a Sept. 20 win over Dallas, and a sensational stoppage-time strike to complete LA's 3-0 victory last weekend over Toronto FC.
But he, like every other player on every MLS roster, prefers to be on the field when the game begins.
“I definitely want to start, and I want to have a major impact on the team, but if I can do that off the bench, then I'm happy to do so,” Gordon said. “But everybody's goal is to start, and I'm looking forward to getting 90 minutes and having a full game to show what I can do.”
He's made an impact in his starts, with a second-minute goal starting the Galaxy toward a 4-1 romp over D.C. United at the end of August and his work in the goalmouth leading to Colorado goalkeeper Joe Nasco's opening-minute red card -- with Landon Donovan converting the ensuing penalty kick -- in the 6-0 rout of the Rapids nine days later.
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The latest impression Gordon has left is one of his best, with that unexpected 28-yard blast to finish off Toronto.
“Alan's been terrific for us,” Donovan said afterward. “I can't imagine it's a welcome sight when teams defend Gyasi and Robbie for that long, and they look up and see Alan coming into the game. I think that would be pretty difficult.
“I've known Alan for a long time. I've seen him in training and games for a long time. I'm not sure I've ever seen him shoot from there, and I'm definitely sure I haven't seen him score from there. But when things are going your way, they're going your way, and it's another dimension to his game that people [must] worry about.”
