Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Can Robbie Keane Deliver for LA?

With a breakout performance in the form of a 2-0 victory over CD Motagua in the CONCACAF Champions League, one would believe that Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are looking to finally turn the tables on Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

With Robbie Keane available for duty on Saturday night against the Quakes, one would believe that the Galaxy will take no prisoners.

Sounds like a plan.

In the meantime, the Galaxy (13-3-9, 48 points, 1st in MLS Western Conference) parted ways with Juan Pablo Angel as they shipped him to the club's main rival/co-tenant, Chivas USA.

“He’s been a great professional for our team. He made us a better team, he really did,” Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “I love him as a person and a player. He’s a first-class individual. I don’t know what more to say. I have nothing but the greatest respect for him.”

“Juan is a first-class guy,” Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter said. “He set the standard that a lot of the older people on the team have established in this team, and that’s ‘You work hard no matter who you are.’ He came in and went right along with that and he worked hard from day one. He had a great attitude from day one and he was a great teammate.”

“Everybody knows his capabilities and qualities and for whatever reason it wasn’t working out here. Perhaps style of play didn’t mesh well,” team captain Landon Donovan said. “I have no doubt that he’s going to succeed.”

With Angel's departure, Keane fills in the third designated player spot, putting him in line with Donovan and midfielder David Beckham.

A big decision that needs to be made is if Bruce Arena decides to roll the dice and send Robbie Keane out there early, or if he elects to bring up Adam Cristman, and then sub Keane in. One is drenched with the phrase "aggressive," the other with the phrase "conservative."

It's a decision that could determine the outcome of the match. Robbie Keane has not been sharp in the Premier League as of late. Sure he is still a contributor to the cause for the Republic of Ireland National Team however, he fell out of favor with his old club Tottenham Hotspur, and as a result, two clubs were locked in a battle for his rights.

The Galaxy defeated Leicester City handily and the rest is history.

As for the Earthquakes, it's been a tough year, and with Steven Lenhart unavailable due to personal issues, the team will soldier on without its second-leading goal scorer (five goals this season) and a provider who is second in assists with three.

But they do have a couple of players that can deal damage to the Galaxy and upstage Keane's debut.

Chris Wondolowski is still San Jose's leading goal scorer with eight goal. Look for Steven Beitshour to make his presence felt. Beitashour leads the team in assists with four. Also key to the Earthquakes success are Simon Dawkins (four goals this season) and Khari Stephenson (three goals this year).

Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Bobby Convey could also have a breakout performance. Though both only have two assists each, they will look to feel the ball to Wondo and Dawkins in the attempt to fire some chances in the direction of Los Angeles goalkeeper Josh Saunders.

San Jose also has a player that will make his debut in the form of Ecuadorian international Edmundo Zura, on loan from El Nacional. Zura scored 14 goals in 45 appearances for El Nacional since 2009.

Ultimately, it will go down to goalkeeping for San Jose. If Robbie Keane does get the start, Jon Busch will need to have the game of his life.

Busch has a shoddy 5-9-10 record this year with a 1.33 goals against average a 72.5 percent save percentage and 87 saves. It will be a huge accomplishment in what has been a terrible season between the posts if he neutralizes the one-man Irish firing squad from Dublin.

The options that Keane brings to the table may take a lot of pressure off Donovan and Beckham and even Adam Cristman, who have shouldered the Galaxy's attack up until this point. No one at Victoria Street should be surprised if Beckham and Keane connect early on set pieces.

As for the Galaxy's defense, the back line of Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin, Todd Dunivant, Gregg Berhalter and A.J. DeLaGarza were solid in their last meeting, although Mike Magee did pitch in.

Even if Lenhart is unavailable, goalkeeper Josh Saunders must avoid falling into the mind games that saw him sent off early  this season at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara.

Saunders has a 7-2-3 record to go with a 1.15 goals against average, 34 saves and a 72.3 percent save percentage.

Donovan leads the team in goals with 11, while Beckham leads the team in assists with 10.

Prediction:

The San Jose Earthquakes will be wise not to pull a Brian Mullan on Robbie Keane, lest the guilty player is suspended for the rest of the season and forced to pay a hefty fine. Nonetheless, Keane—in spite of jet lag—could be fit enough to start. Ultimately, it will be Arena's decision to either throw him in or ease him in.

But if Keane finds his form, this could be trouble for San Jose. Jon Busch must neutralize the shots he makes, while the Galaxy will look to press and pressure San Jose's back line of Beitashour, Bobby Burling, Ramiro Corrales, and Jason Hernandez.

On the defensive side, they need to contain Zura's play-making ability. If Zura, Wondolowski and Dawkins are held at bay, half the battle is won.

A victory by the Galaxy will not make them the odds-on favorite to run with the MLS Supporters Shield just yet. Nor will it put San Jose on the brink of elimination from the playoffs. But at this point in the season, when the situation calls for drastic measures, the outcome could be decisive if Robbie Keane is more than keen to score on the scene.

Los Angeles Galaxy 4, San Jose Earthquakes 0
Kickoff is scheduled for Aug. 20 at 7;30 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Prime Ticket.