CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy forward Chandler Hoffman needed just 54 minutes to hang three goals on Chivas USA in Monday’s 4-1 Reserve League victory over the Rojiblancos reserves. Now he’s hoping to turn his stellar performance into a chance to contribute to the Galaxy’s first team.
With his hat trick against Chivas, Hoffman is now the reserve team’s leader in goals with four. The goals could be major boost for the 22-year-old, who remains the only player on the Galaxy’s 30-man roster to not appear on a game day squad for an MLS Regular Season game this season. Hoffman’s lone first team appearance this season came as a second half substitute in LA’s 2-0 U.S. Open Cup defeat to the Carolina Railhawks in May.
READ: LA Galaxy earn 4-1 win over Chivas USA in Reserve League SuperClasico
Although Hoffman has been unable to crack the first team so far this season, he has impressed in his six reserve team appearances and truly came alive against Chivas.
“In recent [MLS Reserve League] games, I’ve put myself in good spots, I just haven’t been finishing until today when I scored three goals, which is a big plus,” said Hoffman. “Hopefully it gets me into the first team.”
Vital to the success of Hoffman was the play of the Galaxy midfield, who repeatedly found LA’s forwards in dangerous spots up field. Their firm grasp of the game became even more complete in the 59th minute when Chivas were reduced to 10-men when midfielder Oswaldo Minda was sent off for a foul on forward Charlie Rugg, who had just come into the match for Hoffman.
READ: Chandler Hoffman ready for a fresh start with the Galaxy
Hoffman was the hat trick hero, however, Galaxy assistant coach and reserve team head coach Curt Onalfo was particularly pleased with his midfield’s role in the victory.
“Our spacing was good, our ball movement was good, and our passing was good. Laurent Courtois was very influential on the game, every time that he had the ball things happened,” said Onalfo. “When Michael Stephens [had the ball] things happened, even when Rafael Garcia and Kenney Walker. That positioned Jack [McBean], Chandler, and also Charlie to be in good spots and make things happen.”
Even if Hoffman’s hat trick against Chivas isn’t enough to earn him a spot on the Galaxy’s 18-man game day roster against the Colorado Rapids this Saturday, expect him to be in the lineup for LA when they return to reserve league action against Colorado a day later.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
