CARSON, Calif. — With a goal in the 90th minute from midfielder Rafael Garcia, the LA Galaxy beat Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 in their MLS Reserve League game at The Home Depot Center on Monday. The Galaxy improved their Reserve League record to 1-1-0, while Seattle fell to 0-2-1 with the loss.
Seattle was forced to play the final 20 minutes of the game down a man after Danish midfielder Christian Sivebaek was given a straight red card in the 69th minute for a hard tackle on rookie defender Bryan Gaul.
Galaxy Postgame Reaction
The Galaxy, who had the better of the play following Sivebaek’s red card, finally made that man advantage pay off in the 90th minute when Garcia, a rookie drafted out of Cal State Northridge in the second round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft, scored his first goal for the club. Galaxy Academy midfielder Raul Mendiola was credited with an assist on the goal.
The goal scoring sequence began on the right wing touchline with Hector Jimenez, who spotted Mendiola open across the field on the opposite sideline. Mendiola received the pass from Jimenez, quickly gave it to an open Garcia and smartly continued his run forward. Garcia played it back to Mendiola and then made a timely run into the box. Mendiola spotted Garcia and clipped the ball into the center of the penalty are for Garcia, who powered a diving header past Brian Meredith and into the back of the net to give LA the win.
Before the Sounders were cut down to 10-men, both teams struggled to break down the opposition defense, meaning that chances were few and far between.
Seattle’s two best chances came a minute apart just before the hour mark. In the 58th minute, rookie midfielder Andy Rose drove a powerful long-range shot that forced goalkeeper Bill Gaudette to parry his save around the post for a corner. On the ensuing corner kick, Marc Burch found Roger Levesque at the back post, only for his close range shot to be blocked. A scramble inside the box ensued before LA were eventually able to clear the ball away from danger.
The Galaxy are back in Reserve League action on Tuesday, May 8 when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center. The Sounders return to The Home Depot Center next week for their next Reserve League game, against Chivas USA on Monday, April 23. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m.
LA Galaxy 1, Seattle Sounders FC 0
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Rafael Garcia 1 (Raul Mendiola 1) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Marcelo Sarvas (Yellow Card) 45’
SEA – Andy Rose (Yellow Card) 59’
LA – Bryan Gaul (Yellow Card) 63’
SEA – Marc Burch (Yellow Card) 68’
SEA – Christian Sivebaek (Red Card) 69’
LA – Kenney Walker (Yellow Card) 88’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Bill Gaudette; Bryan Jordan (Oscar Sorto^ 87’), Andrew Boyens, Dan Keat, Bryan Gaul; Hector Jimenez, Kenney Walker, Marcelo Sarvas (Rafael Garcia 60’), Kyle Nakazawa (Raul Mendiola^ 77’); Pat Noonan (Jose Villarreal 77’), Adam Cristman.
Subs Not Used: Jordan King.
^ - Galaxy Academy Players
Seattle Sounders FC: Brian Meredith; Roger Levesque, John Kennedy Hurtado, Andrew Duran, Marc Burch; Cordell Cato, Servando Carrasco, Andy Rose, Christian Sivebaek (Sent Off 69’); Sammy Ochoa (Alex Caskey 87’), Mike Seamon.
Subs Not Used: Brian Rowe, Jonathan Prieto, Armando Ochoa, Sean Morrison.
Referee: Juan Guzman
Referee’s Assistants: Luis Gutierrez and Bernhard Hosu
4th Official: Shahin Torosian
