LA Galaxy II (4-9-4, 16 points) secured all three points at home against Seattle Sounders FC 2 (3-9-2, 11 points) with a 5-3 victory.
LA Galaxy II came out strong with an early testing shot from Ulysses Llanez against Seattle’s goalkeeper, Same Fowler. But it was the Sounders who went on the board first in the 14th minute. Captain Ray Saari scored a low and hard shot, which Justin Vom Steeg was late to react to.
However, it didn’t take long for Los Dos to respond. Frank Lopez made a brilliant run into the box and was able to find Geoffrey Acheampong who neatly slotted it into the back of the net. Less than two minutes later, Lopez recorded his own goal after side-stepping a tackle from a Seattle Sounders 2 defender. Lopez fired a shot low and hard into the far post. Seattle Sounders FC 2 would get the final say before halftime, scoring in the 45th minute. The sides entered half tied up with a two goals apiece.
Los Dos came out of Coach Muñoz’ halftime chat with gusto. Efrain Alvarez opened the scoring in the second half after a long ball was played to him from the back. Alvarez broke away from Seattle’s defense and curled the ball perfectly into the net to score a sensational goal. Alvarez has scored eight goals for Los Dos in seven appearances.
The momentum continued for Galaxy II when a foul was given just outside the box in the 60th minute. Left-footed Alex Mendez stepped up to take the free kick and rocketed it past Seattle’s wall to find the back of the net, earning Mendez his first professional goal. Two minutes later, Alvarez found his second goal of the night, going one-on-one with the keeper.
Seattle Sounders FC 2 responded with another goal in the 80th minute, but it was not enough to earn a result. LA Galaxy II walked away with the victory after a solid performance at home.
Next, LA Galaxy II are back on the road to face derby rivals Orange County SC on Saturday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park.
Scoring Summary:
SEA – Ray Saari 14’ (Assisted by Jesse Daley)
LA – Geoffrey Acheampong 26’ (Assisted by Frank Lopez)
LA – Frank Lopez 28’
SEA – Jesse Daley 45’ (Assisted by Denso Ulysse)
LA – Efrain Alvarez 49’
LA – Alex Mendez 60’
LA – Efrain Alvarez 62’ (Assisted by Alex Mendez)
SEA – David Estrada 80’ (Assisted Jesse Daley)
Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Jesse Daley 3’
SEA – Tony Alfaro 34’
SEA – Ray Saari 40’
LA – Frank Lopez 51’
SEA – Denso Ulysse 59’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy II: Justin Vom Steeg, Nick Shultz, John Requejo, Emmanuel Appiah, Ian Lonergan, Alex Mendez, Geoffrey Acheampong (Jorge Hernández 82’), Julian Büscher ©, Efrain Alvarez, Ulysses Llanez (Adrian Vera 78’), Frank Lopez (Ethan Zubak 78’)
Substitutions not used: Eric Lopez, Jonathan Hernandez, Andre Ulrich Zanga, Justin Dhillon
TOTAL SHOTS: 19; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1.
Seattle Sounders FC 2: Sam Fowler, Denso Ulysse, Sam Rogers (Rodrigue Ele 45’), Ibrahim Usman, Tony Alfaro, Ray Saari ©, Jesse Daley, Shandon Hopeau (Gabe Threadgold), Francisco Narbon (Gio Miglietti 64’), Henry Wingo, David Estrada
Substitutions not used: Antonee Burke-Gilroy, David Olsen
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 18; OFFSIDE: 5; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3.
Referee: Joseph Salinas
Attendance: 1,714
NOTES:
- LA Galaxy II (4-9-4, 16 points) secured all three points in a 5-3 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 Tulsa Roughnecks FC (1-8-7, 10 points) Sunday evening at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium.
- Los Dos are now 4-2-2 at home in 2018.
- LA Galaxy II are 0-7-2 away from home this season.
- LA Galaxy II sit 14th in the USL Western Conference standings.
- Julian Büscher leads LA Galaxy II in assists this season (5).
- Efrain Alvarez leads LA Galaxy II in goals this season (8).
- Alvarez has scored eight goals for LA Galaxy II in seven appearances.
- Alex Mendez scored his first professional goal in the match.
- Geoffrey Acheampong scored his first goal for LA Galaxy II in the match.
- LA Galaxy II finished the 2017 season with a 4-8-4 home record and a 4-11-1 away record.
- Next, Los Dos are back on the road to face derby rivals Orange County SC at Champions Soccer Stadium at OC Great Park on Saturday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. PT.
