CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, October 11, 2015) – LA Galaxy II defeated OKC Energy 2-1 in the USL Western Conference Final Sunday evening at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City thanks to goals from Ariel Lassiter and Andre Auras.
With the victory, Los Dos advanced to the USL Championship match for the first time in the club’s two-year history. They’ll face the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, New York in the final.
Lassiter opened the scoring in just the seventh minute of the match after capitalizing on an Oklahoma City turnover in the box. Auras blasted in a free kick from 30 yards that bounced off the pitch, and then was redirected by defender Bradley Diallo. The 21-year-old forward pounced on the rebound on the far post and knocked the ball into an empty Energy FC net. The goal was Lassiter's third of the 2015 postseason.
In the 22nd minute, Galaxy II doubled their lead when Auras curled a free kick from 25-yards into the left corner of the Oklahoma City net past goalkeeper Evan Newton. The goal is the French midfielder’s first of the 2015 USL Playoffs.
As the second half kicked off, Energy FC pushed forward in search of a way back into the match. In the 65th minute, Oklahoma City got on the board when Coady Andrews nodded a Sebastian Dalgaard corner past Galaxy II goalkeeper Clement Diop.
Once Energy FC got on the scoreboard, the hosts pressed Galaxy II in search of the equalizer. However, Diop and the Galaxy defense held firm amid the Energy FC attack.
Diop, who kept two clean sheets during the playoffs, made a pair of clutch stops late to send Galaxy II through to their first ever USL final.
LA Galaxy II 2, OKC Energy FC 1
Sunday, Oct. 11 – 4:00 p.m. PT
USL Playoffs – Western Conference Finals
Taft Stadium – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Scoring Summary:
- LA – Ariel Lassiter (Assisted by Bradley Diallo) 7’
- LA – Andre Auras 22’
- OKC – Coady Andrews (Assisted by Sebastian Dalgaard) 65’
Misconduct Summary:
- OKC – Gareth Evans (caution) 31’
- LA – Jack McBean (caution) 48’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy II: Clement Diop; Joe Franco, Daniel Steres ©, Bradley Diallo, Oscar Sorto (Meyer 82’), Raul Mendiola (Ignacio Maganto 69’), Andre Auras, Kenney Walker, Bryan Olivera (Jaime Villarreal 70’); Ariel Lassiter (Travis Bowen 86’); Jack McBean.
Substitutions not used: Bennett Sneddon, Lee Nishanian, Tommy Meyer, Ignacio Maganto, Alejandro Covarrubias, Travis Bowen.
