Carson, Calif. – The LA Galaxy clinched their second straight MLS Reserve League West Division title with a 2-0 win over Chivas USA at StubHub Center on Monday night. Hector Jimenez converted a penalty early in the second half and then provided the cross from which Jose Villarreal volleyed home his team’s second just two minutes later to lead LA to the victory.
With the win, the Galaxy finish the season with a 5-1-4 record for 19 points for an average of 1.9 points per game, which places them ahead of Vancouver and Real Salt Lake at the top of the division. LA were unbeaten in their final eight games of the season, going 5-0-3 since an April 28 loss to Real Salt Lake.
Following a scoreless first half, the game burst to life in the opening minutes of the second half with the Galaxy scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes to take control of the game. Jose Villarreal set up the game’s opening goal, reacting first to a loose touch from a Chivas USA defender and racing in alone on goalkeeper Tim Melia. Villarreal attempted to round the Chivas goalkeeper, who was forced to pull down the Galaxy Homegrown forward setting up a penalty kick. Hector Jimenez stepped up and slotted his penalty past Melia, giving the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute.
Two minutes later, Jimenez and Villarreal teamed up for another goal with Jimenez crossing from the right wing for Villarreal, who was able to get behind a Chivas USA defender and volley a left-footed shot past Melia, doubling the Galaxy lead to 2-0.
With a two-goal lead, the Galaxy continued to dictate the pace of the game and went close to adding to their tally. Rafael Garcia sent a left-footed shot just wide of the post midway through the second half while Charlie Rugg had a pair of shots saved from point blank range in the game’s closing minutes.
At the other end of the field, Brian Rowe played the first half and was called upon to make two saves while Brian Perk made one save in his 45 minutes of play in the second half to complete the fourth shutout of the year for the Galaxy.
LA Galaxy 2. Chivas USA 0
Monday, October 7, 2013
StubHub Center Field #4 –Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Hector Jimenez 3 (Penalty Kick) 51’
LA – Jose Villarreal 2 (Hector Jimenez 3) 53’
Misconduct Summary:
CHV – Tristan Bowen (Yellow Card) 27’
CHV – Tim Melia (Yellow Card) 50’
CHV – Mario Ledesma (Yellow Card) 56’
LA – Rafael Garcia (Yellow Card) 70’
CHV – Josue Soto (Yellow Card) 72’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Rowe (Brian Perk 46’); Oscar Sorto, Leonardo (Tommy Meyer 46’), Greg Cochrane, Laurent Courtois; Robbie Rogers (Bradford Jamieson* 85’), Rafael Garcia©, Hector Jimenez, Raul Mendiola* (Jack McBean 57’); Chandler Hoffman (Charlie Rugg 71’), Jose Villarreal.
Substitutes Not Used: Malcolm Jones, Adonis Amaya
LA Galaxy Academy Player
Chivas USA: Tim Melia; Josue Soto, Mario Ledesma, Fejiro Okiomah, Marvin Iraheta; Jonathan Caparelli, Jose Gomez, Gabriel Farfan (Daniel Delgado 60’), Carlo Chueca; Julio Morales, Tristan Bowen.
Substitutes Not Used: Patrick McClain
* Chivas USA Academy Player
