RSL loses 4-2 at LA Galaxy with Keane netting hat trick

Robbie Keane punished Real Salt Lake in the cruelest of ways, scoring a second-half hat trick as a once-strong defense crumbled for not the first time in recent weeks, with RSL losing 4-2 to LA Galaxy.

Joao Plata opened the scoring with a fantastic goal through the legs of LA goalkeeper and MLS debutant Jaime Penedo, having been put through by a flick into his path by Ned Grabavoy.

Robbie Keane shifted the momentum, though, only four minutes later: Carlos Salcedo dove in desperately at the feet of Keane. The Irishman could only have been described as calm with his finish. With the game 1-1, there was plenty to be played.

The visitors' response was less than stellar. Robbie Keane moved LA Galaxy into the lead in the 67th minute when a terminally poor defensive outlay saw Gyasi Zardes reach the ball with ease before it even came close to reaching the touchline; his pass into Robbie Keane was perfect.

Omar Gonzalez scored in the 75th minute from a corner, beating Nat Borchers to the ball and heading home with ease. Gonzalez certainly deserves a bit of a shaming for his response, as after the goal, he went directly to Nat Borchers to engage in a bit of grade school taunting, which, considering Gonzalez just signed a designated player deal for LA, is a real shame.

Robbie Keane polished off the scoring for LA Galaxy, grabbing his hat trick in the process: A chip over an onrushing Nick Rimando finished it off for the victors late on.

It wasn't quite done, as Robbie Findley found some very slight joy on a corner, picking up a rebound and finishing from close range.