CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy played Liga MX side Club Tijuana to a scoreless draw on Tuesday night at StubHub Center in the club’s third match of the preseason.
Newcomers Ashley Cole and Jelle Van Damme drew high marks in defense as both earned the start in the preseason friendly. Cole went 58 minutes at left back in the match while Van Damme played 64 minutes in central defense for Los Angeles.
Former LA Galaxy midfielder Juninho was not on the gameday roster for Club Tijuana but was in attendance for Tuesday’s preseason friendly. The Brazilian midfielder, who spent the last six years with the Galaxy before moving to Tijuana in the offseason, was honored during pregame ceremonies.
Los Angeles started their second preseason friendly with a predominantly first choice lineup that included the two new defensive newcomers as well as Designated Players Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard. Against a youthful Tijuana side that was lacking many first team players, the Galaxy dominated possession but were unable to seriously test the Xolos defense.
For all of LA’s dominance on the ball, Tijuana nearly got on the board first when the Xolos had a dangerous possession in the Galaxy’s penalty area that needed to be batted away by Oscar Sorto. Bruce Arena’s squad was unable to register a shot on goal until the 69th minute when midfielder Ema Boateng saw his off-balance shot saved by Tijuana goalkeeper Federico Vilar.
The Galaxy had their best opportunity of the night in the 79th minute when Bradford Jamieson IV stripped a Tijuana defender at midfield and then found Gyasi Zardes, who had his attempt stopped by Vilar. Second-half substitute Raul Mendiola nearly found the back of the net just seconds later when he dribbled past four Tijuana defenders but was unable to get his shot on frame.
Los Angeles is now 1-1-1 during their preseason slate and have two games remaining before their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Santos Laguna. The Galaxy will continue their preseason slate on Saturday when they face the San Jose Earthquakes at Cashman Field in Las Vegas.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
LA Galaxy 0, Club Tijuana 0
Tuesday, February 9, 2016 – 7:00 p.m. PT
Preseason Exhibition
StubHub Center – Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Jelle Van Damme (caution) 37’
TJ – Leiton Jiménez (caution) 57’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Dan Kennedy (Brian Rowe 73’); Ashley Cole (Oscar Sorto 58’), Leonardo (Daniel Steres 86’), Jelle Van Damme (Dan Gargan 64’), Robbie Rogers (Josh Turnley 88’); Emmanuel Boateng (Jose Villarreal 72’), Steven Gerrard (Rafael Garcia 73’), Baggio Husidic (Raul Mendiola 80’), Giovani dos Santos (Bradford Jamieson IV 76’); Robbie Keane © (Mike Magee 67’), Gyasi Zardes (Ariel Lassiter 82’).
Substitutions not used: Clement Diop, Ignacio Maganto.
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 16; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1.
Club Tijuana: Federico Vilar ©; Michael Orozco, Leiton Jiménez, Hiram Muñoz (Daniel Gómez 89’); Luis Chávez (Manuel Herrera 84’), Fernando Arce Jr, Paul Arriola (Alonso Escoboza 57’), Jose Maria Cárdenas, Gonzalo DÃaz (Jesús Enriquez 85’); Armando Moreno (Alberto Garcia 57’), Miguel Rodriguez.
Substitutions not used: Adrián Zendejas, Mark Tanko, Luis Garcia, Adrián Ramos de la Torre.
TOTAL SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 5; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 2.
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Referee’s Assistants: Craig Lowry and Matthew Nelson
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 14,543
