Galaxy, Revs tangle at Gillette

Foxborough, MA – The Los Angeles Galaxy will go in search of a second consecutive victory in league play on Sunday when the two-time defending champions face the New England Revolution on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Last Sunday, Los Angeles rolled to a comfortable 4-0 thrashing of Western Conference rivals Seattle Sounders at the Home Depot Center behind a hat trick from Irish international Robbie Keane.

But it was another Robbie who stole headlines on Sunday night as U.S. international Robbie Rogers entered the match in the 77th minute, making him the first openly gay male athlete to participate in a team sport in this country.

Rogers was acquired by the Galaxy from the Chicago Fire in exchange for midfielder Mike Magee and Rogers admitted prior to the match that he battled some nerves.

"I guess part of me was just afraid - not afraid, but a little nervous, I guess," Rogers said. "I understand that, I guess, historically this is a big thing, but for me, it's just another soccer game. So I've kind of been battling with both of those things: 'OK, a soccer game: I've done this a million times.' But then, obviously, I'm not naive, I know people are watching."

Rogers came out back in February and immediately announced his retirement from the game, but then began training with the Galaxy and realized he wanted to return to MLS.

Keane found the back of the net in the 24th, 34th and 44th -- the last two on penalty kicks -- as the Galaxy dominated the first 45 minutes in their most lopsided victory over the Sounders since a 4-0 rout three years ago in Seattle.

Los Angeles followed up their rout of Seattle with a 2-0 loss to the Carolina RailHawks in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.

New England, meanwhile, will hope to extend their season-high unbeaten streak to four consecutive matches.

Last time out, the Revs had no trouble with a struggling Toronto FC side as Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo scored to secure three points.

New England then dispatched the Rochester Rhinos, 5-1, in U.S. Open Cup play, but head coach Jay Heaps is urging he team to keep its eyes forward and not dwell on some recent success.

"It's good to get [the Open Cup underway], but now we have to move on," Heaps said. "One thing we've been doing is focusing on the task at hand. First was [the Open Cup game in Rochester], and now we're on to the next one and that's why we had a session here [on Wednesday], to get us focused on playing LA."