Robbie Keane hat trick leads Galaxy to win in Robbie Rogers' debut

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Midfielder Robbie Rogers, entering the game for teammate Juninho in the 77th minute Sunday night, became the first openly gay male athlete in a major U.S. sports league when he made his debut for the Galaxy on Sunday night in a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

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Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers looks to pass against Sounders defender DeAndre Yedlin in the second half of their game on Sunday night at Home Depot Center. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

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Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers, a former U.S. national team player, defends against Seattle’s DeAndre Yedlin in the second half Sunday night. (Michael Nelson / EPA)

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Robbie Rogers waves to fans as he exits the field at Home Depot Center at the end of the first half Sunday night. (Michael Nelson / EPA)

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Robbie Rogers, a Huntington Beach native, joins teammates in listening to the national anthem before their game against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday night at Home Depot Center. (Michael Nelson / EPA)

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Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers takes part with teammates in warming up before the game against the Seattle Sounders on Sunday night. (Michael Nelson / EPA)

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Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers is greeted by Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid before the start of their game on Sunday night at Home Depot Center. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

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Robbie Rogers stretches as the Galaxy players loosen up before the start of their game against Seattle on Sunday night at Home Depot Center. (Michael Nelson / EPA)

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Galaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers chats with Sounders midfielder Brad Evans before the start of their game at Home Depot Center on Sunday night. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

By Steve Galluzzo

May 26, 2013 10:30 PM PT

On a historic night at Home Depot Center, Robbie Keane made some history of his own Sunday by recording the first hat trick of his Major League Soccer career to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 4-0 rout of the Seattle Sounders FC in the clubs’ first meeting since the Western Conference championship series in November.

Midfielder Robbie Rogers entered the game to a rousing ovation in the 77th minute, becoming the first openly gay male athlete to play in an American professional team sport. The Galaxy signed Rogers to a multiyear contract Saturday after acquiring the rights for him in a trade with the Chicago Fire, and the 26-year-old Huntington Beach native had five touches, one tackle and three completed passes in the final 13 minutes.

“Earlier today I was really nervous, but once I got the stadium it was normal and the guys made it really easy for me,” Rogers said. “Everyone played great, so I didn’t feel any pressure but it was nice to be back and get my feet wet.”

Playing before 24,811 noisy home fans was just what the Galaxy needed to right the ship after a three-game road trip in which they lost to Vancouver, 3-1, beat Philadelphia, 4-1, and suffered their third shutout loss this season last Sunday in New York, 1-0, to the Red Bulls.

The victory moved Los Angeles (6-4-2) ahead of idle Colorado into fourth place in the conference with 20 points, seven behind first-place FC Dallas.

Keane scored three goals in 44 minutes, the 18th hat trick in Galaxy history and the fastest since Alejandro Moreno tallied three goals in 43 minutes in 2004. It was the club’s second hat trick this season, with the first recorded by forward Mike Magee, who was traded to Chicago for Rogers, in the season opener against the Fire.

“As a striker, it’s always great to score goals because it breeds confidence for you, but the most important thing is getting the three points,” Keane said. “It was great to see Robbie [Rogers] get that kind of reception from the fans and now he can concentrate on being a Galaxy player.”

Sean Franklin opened the scoring by re-directing Keane’s centering pass from five yards for his first goal of the season in the 12th minute. Keane doubled the lead 12 minutes later with a hard drive from just inside the penalty area.

Keene was awarded a penalty kick in the 34th minute and his shot to the left side was saved by goalkeeper Michael Gspurning. However, the referee ruled Sounders players entered the box too soon and Keene buried his second attempt into the bottom right corner.

Keane converted another penalty kick 10 minutes later to complete his trifecta after Sounders midfielder Brad Evans was issued a yellow carded for tripping. It marked Keane’s 18th goal in 25 games since returning from the summer European Championships. Keane was replaced in the 73rd minute by Jose Villareal and leaves Monday for Europe to play four international matches for Ireland.

“Our start to the game was really good and Keane’s first goal was big because it got us a 2-0 lead,” Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said. “The game played out just how we hoped and he was able to come out earlier and rest because he’s flying to Europe tomorrow.”

Seattle (4-3-3) entered Sunday’s contest on a six-game unbeaten streak and had scored four goals in each of its previous two matches, but did not have a shot on goal until the 58th minute against L.A.’s aggressive back line. The Sounders played the waning moments a man short after former Chivas USA player Shalrie Joseph was given a red card in the 88th minute.

Rookie Greg Cochrane started in place of defender Todd Dunivant, who was out with a quad strain.

“Greg played well and gave us a good performance,” Arenas said. “We’ve been inconsistent, but overall I thought we rewarded ourselves tonight.”