Winning start pleases Arena

LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena was delighted to see his team secure an emphatic 4-0 victory over Chicago Fire in their MLS opener on Sunday.

Mike Magee scored a hat-trick in the game but said the highlight of the day was picking up his 2012 championship ring.

Irishman Robbie Keane also got on the scoresheet but it was Magee who stole the limelight in the absence of the injured Landon Donovan.

“What can I say? Three goals. I think he (Mike Magee) finished well. I don’t think his first 30 minutes were as good as I’d like to see, but I don’t want to get on the wrong side of Magee,” Arena said.

“His second half was real good. He and Robbie (Keane) did a really good job, got a number of chances.

“We beat a good team tonight. Their goalkeeper, I thought, played well.

“They were tough to break down. Obviously, as we got into the second half, they lost a little energy. They lost their shape and the game opened up a little bit.

“Certainly far from perfect, but for the opening game I was pleased with our performance.”

Despite scoring a hat-trick, Magee praised Keane and said he was thrilled to receive the memento of last year’s triumph.

“Getting the hat-trick was cool, getting the win was cool. And, the best part of the day was getting the ring. So, it was a hell of a day,” Magee said.

“He’s (Robbie Keane) a different class. All three of my goals somehow, somewhere started with him. Not that Robbie needed any more goals, but I was happy to see him get one.”