Real Monarchs SLC had a massive three-goal lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation. Then the wheels fell off as the defending Western Conference Champion LA Galaxy II rallied with a vengeance.
Los Dos scored three goals down the stretch, including Jack McBean’s game-tying penalty kick conversion, to salvage a 3-3 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday.
The Galaxy II (2-0-1, 7 points) ended an impressive winning streak from the Monarchs (1-0-1, 4 points), who had won six consecutive matches dating back to last season.
Ethan Zubak and Ryo Fujii scored the other goals for Los Dos. For the Monarchs, Tyler Arnone, Maikon Orellana and Colin Rolfe each scored first-half goals.
Arnone opened the scoring account in the 14th minute with a deep strike from nearly 25 yards out. The Monarchs played a short corner kick to captain Ricardo Velazco who then dished to Arnone. With nobody from the Los Dos defense stepping up, Arnone took a couple touches before blasting a right-footed shot that skipped once on the surface and snuck inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.
Orellana then got into the scorer’s column when he shot from the right. Galaxy II goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon attempted the parry the ball over the crossbar, but instead it popped up and bounced underneath the frame and over the goal line as the Monarchs took a 2-0 lead.
In first-half stoppage time, Orellana intercepted the ball from midfield and made a strong run to set up the Monarchs’ third score. Orellana crossed from the right and Rolfe redirected perfectly to push the cushion to 3-0 heading into halftime.
In the 81st minute, the Galaxy II found the score sheet. Bryam Rebellon intercepted the ball and rushed down the right side, sending the ball to Zubak who made a great near post run and slotted home to cut the deficit to 3-1.
In the 88th minute, Fujii cut the deficit to 3-2 with a rebound, slotting into the left of the frame after the ball pounced out when McBean and a Monarchs defender converged beforehand.
Then in the 90th minute, the Monarchs’ defense committed a handball in the box, leaving it for McBean who stutter-stepped and then shot to the left side of the goal to tie the score at 3-3.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Ethan Zubak (Assisted by Bryam Rebellon) 81’
LA – Ryo Fujii 89’
LA – Jack McBean 90’
LA Galaxy II Starting XI: Bennett Sneddon; Nathan Smith, Lee Nishanian, Jeffrey Payeras, John Neeskens (Jack McBean 58’); Denzel Slager (Alejandro Covarrubias 58’), Ryo Fujii, Bryam Rebellon, Jaime Villarreal; Adonis Amaya (Kainoa Bailey 73’), Jose Villarreal (Ethan Zubak 74')
Bench: Eric Lopez, Josh Turnley, Jack McBean, Adrian Vera, Ethan Zubak, Alejandro Covarrubias, Kainoa Bailey
Substitutions not used: Eric Lopez, Josh Turnley, Adrian Vera
Attendance: 1, 639
Notes:
- LA Galaxy Academy's Ethan Zubak scored his first USL goal for the club. Tonight was his second straight appearance for Los Dos this season.
- Midfielder Bryam Rebellon recorded his first USL assist when he found Zubak in the box in the 81st minute. Rebellon scored the first goal of his USL career on Wednesday against Saint Louis FC.
- Galaxy II completed the comeback on the road despite the match being Los Dos' third in eight days. It's the second straight game the Galaxy have scored three goals. They lead USL in goals scored.
- Making his USL debut on Saturday was goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon. Sneddon started in the absence of Clement Diop, who was on the road in Vancouver with the first team and had started in goal for Galaxy II in the team's first two matches of the season.
- Midfielder Ryo Fujii also opened up his USL goal account on Saturday night. His clinical 88th minute finish in the box brought Galaxy II within one.
- LA Galaxy II will return home for its third home game of the season this week when they face Orange County Blues FC at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 2 at StubHub Center.
- For a full LA Galaxy II schedule, visitwww.lagalaxy.com/2.
