LA Galaxy II (6-12-5, 23 points) are up against Sacramento Republic FC (12-5-7, 43 points) as they try to rally for a playoff spot in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs. The two sides will square off at 8 p.m. PT on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Papa Murphy’s Park. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
LA Galaxy II head into Saturday’s contest riding a successful run of form from LA Galaxy II forward Frank Lopez. Lopez has scored in four straight games for Los Dos, with five goals to his name across the stretch. His brace in the team’s last outing against Fresno FC helped Galaxy break a four-game winless streak, as they earned a 2-1 win at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium.
Lopez has helped Galaxy find their groove offensively – the side has now scored in seven straight matches. That streak is tied for their longest of the season. It’s a number they’ve only hit one other time, from April 22 to June 10.
On Saturday, Los Dos will face a side that has scored and allowed a lot less in the 2018 season. In Galaxy II’s 25 games this season, they’ve scored 39 goals while allowing 45. In 24 games, Republic FC has scored 29 while allowing 22, less than half of Los Dos. That style of soccer has helped Sacramento to their 3rd place standing in the USL Western Conference.
Sacramento enters the weekend fresh off their first loss since June. Last week, they fell 2-1 to away to Saint Louis FC. Their last defeat before that was a 2-0 loss to Fresno FC.
LA Galaxy II are 1-8-2 on the road in 2018, and this weekend they’ll be looking for their second road win of the season. Their only win came on July 7 against Orange County SC, the only other two results came on the road to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros and Fresno FC. Galaxy II are 1-1-1 on the road in California this year.
LAST MATCH
LA Galaxy 2 | Fresno FC 1: LA Galaxy II held control for the first 75 minutes of the match with help from two Frank Lopez goals. Fresno FC made the final 15 minutes nervy though, getting a goal and earning a couple dangerous chances.
Saint Louis FC 2 | Sacramento FC 1: Saint Louis snapped a six-game Sacramento FC unbeaten run in St. Louis. After an early goal from each side, STLFC earned the winner in the second half while Sacramento dominated possession.
2017 RECORD
LA Galaxy II: 8-19-5, 29 points
Sacramento Republic FC: N/A
THIS YEAR
N/A
LAST YEAR
June 25: LA Galaxy II 2, Sacramento Republic FC 3 | StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium
Sept. 16: Sacramento Republic FC 2, LA Galaxy II 1 | Papa Murphy’s Park
GAME NOTES
- LA Galaxy II (6-12-5, 23 points) will face Sacramento Republic FC (12-5-7, 43 points) in their first matchup of the season.
- LA Galaxy II are 1-8-2 on the road this season. They are 1-1-1 on the road in California.
- Sacramento Republic FC are 6-1-5 at home this year.
- LA Galaxy II sit 14th in the USL Western Conference standings.
- Ethan Zubak lead LA Galaxy II in goals this season (9).
- Frank Lopez has scored in four consecutive games for LA Galaxy II, with five goals in that stretch.
- LA Galaxy II finished the 2017 season with a 4-8-4 home record and a 4-11-1 away record.
- Next up, LA Galaxy II are back home to take on Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at 7:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Aug. 22.
