LA Galaxy 2-1 Club America: Gerrard debut
CARSON, California — Steven Gerrard made his debut and played the first 45 minutes as the LA Galaxy beat Club America 2-1 in an International Champions Cup game at StubHub Center on Saturday night.
After a six-week layoff following the end of his 17th and final season at Liverpool, Gerrard played his traditional spot in central midfield for the Galaxy in the friendly exhibition against the Mexican giants.
Having only started training with the Galaxy on Tuesday, Gerrard seemed more comfortable when moving forward in an attacking role, but was caught flat-footed several times in defence.
Gerrard had an early shot on goal from 35 yards out that had to be punched away by goalie Hugo Gonzalez.
Club America scored on the counter, with Carlos Darwin Quintero putting the ball between Brian Rowe’s legs for a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
Galaxy captain Robbie Keane equalised in the 45th minute. After masterfully collecting a long ball from Juninho with his first touch, Keane coolly placed the ball into the open net from 10 yards out after Gonzalez misjudged the initial pass and came off his line in a futile attempt to gather the long ball.
Alan Gordon scored the winner for LA in the 80th minute, outjumping two defenders and heading in Raul Mendiola’s perfect cross with a high arcing shot.
Still, Gerrard was the focus for the sellout crowd of 27,934. His No. 8 jerseys — both in Liverpool red and Galaxy white — were worn in abundance, and a sizeable contingent of international media was on hand to cover the match.
Focused. #ICC2015 pic.twitter.com/kouVajSJWY
– LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 12, 2015
What they saw was a Gerrard who played as he had during his final seasons at Liverpool, with equal moments of good and bad. He misplayed a backward pass from Keane just inside the centre line and had to send it out of play for a corner kick after scrambling to recover, but also forced Gonzalez into a sprawling right-footed save with a shot just outside the six-yard box in the 22nd minute.
After the match, Galaxy manager Bruce Arena was pleased with Gerrard’s contribution.
“I think Steven played well,” Arena said, according to the Liverpool Echo.
“We’ll have to see how he feels tomorrow and Monday before we make a decision about the Cup tie.
“His passing was very good, his partnership with Juninho was good, he won some tackles, helped create some chances and could have had a goal but the keeper made a great save from him.
“His first time out was very encouraging. he looked like he belonged and his leadership was real good.”
A Merseyside institution for half his life, Gerrard scored 120 goals in 504 appearances and led Liverpool to three League Cups, two FA Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, one UEFA Cup and the 2005 Champions League.
In the 2005 Champions League Final, Gerrard earned and converted a penalty kick as Liverpool dramatically overturned a 3-0 deficit against AC Milan and went on to win the trophy in a shootout. That result, now known as the “Miracle in Istanbul,” would become the cornerstone of Gerrard’s living legend status at Liverpool.
Gerrard had offers to continue his career in the Premier League or move to another European league, but simply could not imagine playing against Liverpool.
“I love Liverpool football club and I always will,” Gerrard said at a press conference on Tuesday. “I’m still a fan and will be until the day that I die. I needed a new challenge, I needed a fresh obstacle.”
Gerrard will play his first MLS match when the Galaxy host the San Jose Earthquakes on July 17.
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