CARSON, Calif. -- Most of the fireworks had passed by the time Giovani Dos Santos stepped onto the StubHub Center field in his LA Galaxy debut, but the Mexican star provided a few thrills in a one-sided romp to open the club's CONCACAF Champions League campaign.
Dos Santos played about 35 minutes up top for the Galaxy, finding instant chemistry with those around him and contributing a goal as they ran to a 5-1 triumph over Trinidad and Tobago's Central FC in the Group D opener Thursday night. Then, he proclaimed he was ready for more.
“It felt great,” he said. “I think we made a great game. I feel happy for my first goal for the club, and I'm looking forward to keep going, that run.”
Dos Santos stepped onto the field in the 57th minute, moments after Gyasi Zardes converted a penalty kick to give LA a 3-1 lead. He soon sent a free kick for a Dave Romney header that went wide, nodded a Ignacio Maganto cross at Central FC goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, then finished a feed from Rafael Garcia in the 76th minute before coming close with another shot five minutes later.
His teammates were impressed.
“He's going to be great for us,” said Alan Gordon, who scored one goal, saw another waved off on an errant out-of-bounds call, and drew the foul that led to Zardes' spot-kick goal. “You can just tell. He's quality, wants the ball, and when he gets the ball at his feet, he's very comfortable taking people on."
Gordon, who was limping after winning the penalty, came off for Dos Santos. Eight years earlier, he was subbed off when David Beckham made his Galaxy debut.
“I planned it pretty well there,” he said, joking. “I faked an injury and got to come off, and my name's in the history books once again.”
Dos Santos' goal was precise. Sebastian Lletget fed a through ball for Garcia on the left side of Central's box, and the left back found Dos Santos at the near post, just above the six-yard box. He redirected the pass just beyond Williams' reach, off the right post, and into the net.
The chemistry looked good.
“I think it was easy,” Dos Santos said. “They're top players, and it's easy to play with good players. For my first game, I think everything was perfect, and my team scored some goals, so everything is going good.”
