James Nolan,missing

Robbie was Keane to pay tribute to Ireland fan Nolan after Galaxy goal

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Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane paid tribute to the family of Irish football fan James Nolan after scoring a goal in LA Galaxy's 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.

Nolan, 21, of Blessington, County Wicklow, was in Poland to follow Keane and the Irish national team during their European Championship run went missing last Sunday and his body was found on Wednesday in a canal in northern Poland after an apparent accidental drowning.

Keane's tribute came after his goal in the 30th minute as he ran toward the club's bench where he was handed a Galaxy shirt that read 'RIP James Nolan' on the back.


Tribute: Robbie Keane holds up a shirt with 'RIP James Nolan' printed on the back in honor of a 21 year old Irish fan who drowned in Poland


On target: Keane scores past Joe Cannon for LA Galaxy

For the 31-year-old Irish captain, who has scored 53 goals in 120 games for the national team, the gesture was important for his grieving nation.



He said: 'It was a young Irish fan who went to Poland, 21 years of age, and unfortunately drowned.

‘Obviously, the whole country was sad and I called his father today to send my condolences and to say that my thoughts were with him and the family.’


Heading for the bench: Keane celebrates his goal by heading to collect the shirt in honour of James Nolan


Playing his part: David Beckham helped LA Galaxy to three wins in a row

'It was just a gesture because the Irish people are very close and they stick with each other through good times and bad times. He was a big, big soccer fan and it was a shame, so it was just a show of respect really.'

Keane said he intends to send the shirt to Nolan's family back in Ireland.

Former Everton loanee Landon Donovan and striker Mike Magee were also on target as the Galaxy won their third game in a row.