Football
ESPN staff 9y

Robbie Keane's hand in Gyasi Zardes, Landon Donovan switch at halftime

One pivotal coaching move in Sunday's MLS Cup final came from a player, according to LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena.

With L.A. struggling to score in the first half against the New England Revolution, captain and reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane recommended at halftime that Gyasi Zardes and Landon Donovan switch positions, with Donovan up front and Zardes in the midfield. 

Six minutes into the second half, Zardes scored and the Los Angeles-born striker continued to find room up and down the left side for the remainder of L.A.'s 2-1 win.

"He should probably be the player-manager of this team," said Arena after the game. "Moving Landon suggested we could be a little bit better there [in midfield]. The change helped us."

After the game, Zardes talked about what went on in the Galaxy locker room and how he responded to the news of the position switch.

"Keane said, 'Let's try something different, put Gyasi down there and let him run.' I said, 'All right, let's do it.'"

Sardes' goal put L.A. in front 1-0. The Revs came back to draw level and send the game to extra time, but the end result was fine for the Galaxy and the 27,000 fans that turned out at StubHub Center to see their fifth MLS Cup win.

Donovan said switching positions during games was something that Arena had worked with the team on during practice. It happened to work nicely, this time at Keane's suggestion.

"There was a lot of space and we didn't do a good enough job creating chances," said Donovan. "So I think they wanted to get me closer to goal and put Gyasi in a spot where he could be more effective, so it was sort of as simple as that.

"It looks genius sometimes, but sometimes things don't work out and you go with a feeling and that was Bruce's hunch."

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