CARSON, Calif. – Jose Villarreal is determined to win his way back into the fold with the LA Galaxy, and if he continues to perform as he did in Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup win over Orange County SC, the opportunities will come.
Villarreal put in a man of the match showing as Los Angeles advanced to the Round of 16 with a 3-1 win over the USL club.
Placed in a second striker role, Villarreal pulled the strings for the Galaxy, creating three chances and completing nearly 90 percent of his total passes. But the coup de grace came in the – minute when Villarreal completed a world-class finish to put Los Angeles ahead as the sun set on StubHub Center.
When the ball sailed into the back of the net, Villarreal, who is no stranger to a world class finish, couldn’t help but admire the strike.
“I saw good space in front of me, and it popped up on me pretty nice, and I got a good strike on it, and I’m happy it went it,” Villarreal said. “It might have been [my nicest goal], but I still like my first goal.”
Do yourself a favor and watch this spectacular goal by @jayy_villa. #LAvOCpic.twitter.com/ZDSyy10o6E
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 15, 2017
Galaxy head coach Curt Onalfo did not shrink away from the brilliance of Villarreal’s strike, declaring it a world-class finish.
“This field’s a little bit of a shooting field. It’s a thick grass field, and the balls pops up, so we talked to him about that before the game. When you have a window, just hit it, and sure enough, he did. It was a world-class goal.”
Impressing Onalfo has become Villarreal’s sole goal over the last few months with varying success. The striker has made just four appearances for the first team since the former Galaxy II and reserve team boss took over the reins of the senior side.
Despite a slow start to the year, Villarreal is confident that he’ll be the recipient of more first team minutes shortly.
“He knows me pretty well, whatever he asks me to do I do it the best I can and try to help out the team,” Villarreal said. “He’s been pushing me for quite some time now, and I’m glad he’s the coach now, and he gives us some more opportunity.”
