Bryan Jordan never will be confused with being the best player on the Los Angeles Galaxy, but he could be one of their most valuable.
Whenever the Galaxy have needed a lift, the 23-year-old has been more than willing to oblige. His play in the second half in the club's season opener against D.C. United helped the Galaxy rally to a 2-2 tie, and his second-half goal last Saturday gave Los Angeles a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.
"If I can come in and help the team like that," he said, "that's what I want to do."
The 5-foot-8, 155-pound forward has played in all four games this season -- all as substitutes -- and is in his second season with the Galaxy after signing with Los Angeles on March 25, 2008. He grew up in nearby Temple City, Calif., and was a teammate of Galaxy forward Alan Gordon during his freshman season at Oregon State. Gordon said Jordan hasn't changed.
"He kind of came out of nowhere," Gordon said. "He got a chance in college to come on kind of unexpectedly and took advantage of his opportunities. He was the kind of guy that did that consistently; you put him in, he gives you some energy and he usually scored a goal.
"He's doing that now."
Jordan said he felt more prepared than usual last Saturday after receiving a pregame pep talk from Galaxy associate head coach Dave Sarachan, who told him to be "dangerous" when he got a chance.
"It was just a reminder of what his role is as a reserve," Sarachan said. "Be dangerous, be effective, be a pain in the butt. When you have guys with pace and quickness coming 70, 75 minutes in, you're catching teams on their heels a little bit.
"I think he did a very good job coming in."
Jordan replaced Mike Magee in the 56th minute and, 20 minutes later, scored the equalizer on a pretty pass from Landon Donovan just outside the goal crease and directly in front of the Earthquakes' net. Jordan calmly headed the ball into the net past diving San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon for his second career goal with Los Angeles and, as his custom, did an impressive front flip in celebration.
Jordan said he's been doing that since he was about 15 -- he originally was encouraged by his father to do it -- and admitted it hasn't always looked as easy as it did Saturday. He stumbled badly after he scored his first goal with Los Angeles on Sept. 6, 2008, against Real Salt Lake, but he would have made a gymnast proud with his effort Saturday.
"I landed it pretty well this time," he said with a grin. "Nobody can say anything bad about me now."
Donovan said Jordan's play has been just what the winless Galaxy (0-1-3) have needed this season.
"Since the first day he got here," Donovan said, "he's consistently gotten better and his finishing has gotten better. When he comes in he's given us a big boost with his energy and his willingness to put himself in tough positions.
"He scored a great goal last Saturday and we expect him to keep doing great things."
Jordan said he'll be ready whenever he's called upon and takes pride in his role as an important reserve. He said he enjoys watching from the bench, looking for opponents' weaknesses and "picking his spots" when he's finally called in by head coach Bruce Arena.
"I feel the guys really appreciate it when I get out there," he said. "The whole team seems to feed off me."
His teammates won't, however, try to emulate his goal-scoring antics.
"I'd be the guy that'd hurt myself doing it," Gordon said. "So I'm not even going to try."
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
