CARSON, Calif. -- After a rough outing in net last week, Brian Rowe looked to get back to business as usual.
The LA Galaxy goalkeeper put his night in Montreal behind him and earned a shutout against Sporting KC in a 0-0 draw at StubHub Center Thursday night.
“I put the last game behind me,” Rowe told reporters. “What happened happened, so I just came into this one focusing on it like another game.”
North of the border last week, Montreal’s Didier Drogba scored a game winner in second-half stoppage time off a long free kick, in which Rowe accidentally deflected the shot into the net and snapped LA’s nine-match unbeaten streak.
Sporting KC poured shots on the Galaxy net Thursday, including several from distance, but Rowe was up to the task, and proved head coach Bruce Arena's faith in him.
“Brian, despite the last game, is quite capable of handling shots from distance, and he did a good job tonight,” said Arena after the game.
In putting last week’s match behind him, Rowe stayed with his regular routine, and didn’t make any major adjustments.
“It was really no change for me,” said Rowe. “In any sport you have highs and lows, and that was definitely one of the worst lows I’ve had. It was nice getting back to training on Monday, having the support of the guys and the coaches, and I focused on it just like any other game.”
Rowe knows that that clean sheets haven’t come often this season for LA. Despite a bit of frustration in not getting the win, he’s happy with the shutout.
“I know it’s something we need to focus on,” noted Rowe on shutting opponents out. “It’s just a little disappointing we weren’t able to get the win or get any goals.
“A win would have been icing on the cake, but I think we’ll take a shutout.”
