CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy II battled back from a goal down to beat the Orange County Blues 3-1 at StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium on Saturday evening.
Charlie Rugg, Chandler Hoffman and Laurent Courtois all scored for the LA Galaxy’s USL PRO affiliate to improve Los Dos’ record to 3-1-1 in their inaugural campaign.
The Blues took the lead in the ninth minute when Edgar Santana capitalized on a defensive miscue to slot the ball past LA ‘keeper Cody Laurendi.
LA Galaxy II almost equalized immediately after going behind after Mendiola rounded then laid the ball of perfectly to Rugg, who could only hit his shot off the post. Despite several chances to equalize, Los Dos went into the second half down to their inner-state rivals.
Head coach Curt Onalfo’s side eventually found their goal in the 49th minute when a brilliant pass from captain Rafael Garcia put Rugg one-on-one with the keeper and he finished with aplomb.
Jack McBean was introduced for the goalscorer Rugg in the 69th minute and he made an instant impact. Just four minutes after coming on, the Orange County native headed down an Oscar Sorto cross perfectly into the path of Hoffman who finished easily from close range.
The Blues nearly clawed their way back into the match five minutes later but William Prado missed wide after rounding Laurendi with the goalmouth gaping. Los Dos sealed the victory in stoppage time when substitute Laurent Courtois chipped a beautiful ball over McLain after another lay off from McBean.
LA Galaxy II return to action on April 25 when they travel to Phoenix to take on Arizona United in the club’s first ever road match. The game will take place at 7:10 p.m. at Peoria Sports Complex.
LA Galaxy II Season Ticket Memberships begin at just $6 per game. For more information on LA Galaxy, LA Galaxy II memberships, or group and single tickets, visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 877-3GALAXY (342-5299).
LA GALAXY II 3 – OC BLUES FC 1
04.19.2014: StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium – 7:30 p.m. PT
Attendance: 435
OC: 9’: Edgar Santana (Assisted by Allan Russell)
LA: 49’: Charlie Rugg (Assisted by Rafael Garcia)
LA: 73’: Chandler Hoffman (Assisted by Jack McBean)
LA: 90’: Laurent Courtois (Assisted by Jack McBean)
LA Galaxy II: Cody Laurendi; Oscar Sorto, Daniel Steres, Bradley Diallo, Eder Arreola (Kyle Venter 85’); Robbie Rogers (Laurent Courtois 79’), Andre Auras (Alejandro Covarrubias 65’), Rafael Garcia©, Raul Mendiola, Charlie Rugg (Jack McBean 69’), Chandler Hoffman
Substitutions not used: Brian Rowe, Aleksandar Đoković
Head Coach: Curt Onalfo
OC Blues FC: Patrick McLain; James Turner (Ntokozo Tshuma 72’), Fabrice Gautrat, Ryan O'Leary; Seth Moses, Seung Ju Kim (William Prado 75’), Stephen Okai, Mehrshad Momeni (Joshua Suggs 50’), Edgar Santana (Enrique Cardenas 57’), Gibson Bardsley (Cesar Rivera 63’); Allan Russell©
Substitutions not used: Mohammad Mohammedi, Taylor Peay
Head Coach: Dariush Yazdani
Disciplinary Summary:
OC: Gibson Bardsley (caution) 6’
LA: Andre Auras (caution) 37’
LA: Rafael Garcia (caution) 61’
OC: Fabrice Gautrat (ejection) 88’
