SAN JOSE, Calif. — The LA Galaxy lost their second straight Reserve League game and slipped to second place in the West Division standings with a 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday. Mehdi Ballouchy and Sercan Guvenisik each scored for San Jose, who handed LA their first shutout in Reserve League play this season. With the loss, LA slips to 4-3-1 on the season, leaving them one point behind San Jose for the division lead with two games remaining on their schedule.
RESERVE LEAGUE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson, who began training with the Galaxy late last week, started the game for LA and played 58 minutes on the right side of midfield, challenging the San Jose defense before being replaced by Hector Jimenez.
Despite Wilhelmsson’s constant threat down the right flank, it was the Earthquakes that opened the scoring through Mehdi Ballouchy in the ninth minute. A Matt Fondy shot from the top of the box struck the bar and Ballouchy was the first to react, heading the rebound past Brian Perk to put San Jose in front 1-0.
The score remained that way until halftime, despite Edson Buddle and Jose Villarreal each going close in the closing minutes of the first half.
After the break, Rafael Garcia challenged San Jose goalkeeper Evan Newton with a freekick from 25 yards out, but Newton was able to dive to his right and make the save, keeping the score 1-0.
It would stay that way until the 80th minute when Sercan Guvenisik took a pass from Khari Stephenson and placed a shot from the top of the box past Perk for his sixth goal of the season.
Jose Villarreal and Jack McBean each went close for LA in the game’s closing minutes, but it was not enough as Newton and the San Jose defense were able to maintain their clean sheet and claim the victory.
Tuesday’s game was the Galaxy’s fifth and final road game in the Reserve League this season. They return to action on Monday, September 10 when they host the Portland Timbers. LA will then close out their Reserve League schedule on Friday, October 12 when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Both of those games will be played on University Field #1 at The Home Depot Center with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. VIEW REMAINING RESERVE LEAGUE SCHEDULE
LA Galaxy 0 Jose Earthquakes 2
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Earthquakes Training Facility – San Jose, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
SJ – Mehdi Ballouchy (Unassisted) 9’
SJ – Sercan Guvenisik (Khari Stephenson) 80’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Bryan Gaul (Yellow Card) 55’
SJ – Brad Ring (Yellow Card) 65’
SJ – Evan Newton (Yellow Card) 84’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Brian Perk, Oscar Sorto^, Andrew Boyens, Tommy Meyer, Bryan Gaul; Christian Wilhelmsson* (Hector Jimenez 58’), Kenney Walker, Rafael Garcia, Michael Stephens (Raul Mendiola^ 70’); Jose Villarreal, Edson Buddle (Jack McBean 46’).
Subs Not Used: Brian Rowe, Drew Murphy^.
^ - Galaxy Academy Players
* - Galaxy Guest/Training Player
San Jose Earthquakes: Evan Newton; Jacob Hustedt, Brad Ring, Josh Suggs, Jordan Stewart; Sam Garza, Mehdi Ballouchy, Khari Stephenson, Elisama Padilla^ (Johnny Knutsen^ 87’); Sercan Guvenisik (Jesse Morales^ 87’), Matt Fondy.
Subs Not Used: David Bingham, Irving Ventura^.
^ - Earthquakes Academy Players
* - Earthquakes Guest/Training Player
Referee: Nestor Chavez
Referee's Assistants: Vicente Cortes and Matthew R. Buckman
4th Official: Joe Dickerson
