LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, May 5, 2021) – LA Galaxy II tallied five goals in the second half to earn a 5-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Wednesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park, maintaining Los Dos’ undefeated record all-time against Lights FC in the process.
Los Dos also had the better of the first half, and Kai Koreniuk was twice denied by Las Vegas goalkeeper Tomas Romero while also having a shot deflected wide from 10 yards out. The best opportunity of the half, however, fell to Augustine Williams in the 25th minute as a low cross from the left by Josh Drack found the 2020 Championship All-League selection for a chance he pushed just wide of the left post.
LA Galaxy II’s willingness to get on the front foot paid off three minutes into the second half as Koreniuk notched the side’s first goal of the season. A low cross from Owen Lambe from the right went through the six-yard area where Koreniuk was waiting at the back post to roof a finish home.
Los Dos took control of the game before the hour-mark as they struck twice in three minutes. Daniel Aguirre was involved in both, with the midfielder firing a shot in the 57th minute that Romero got a hand to only to see the ball deflect into his net off defender Chinenye Uche for an own goal. Two minutes later, Aguirre put home a beautiful finish to the top-left corner after Jorge Hernandez made a driving run into the penalty area before laying the ball off to his teammate near the top of the box.
Lights FC almost hit back with 16 minutes to go as Danny Trejo got into space in the left side of the penalty area only for his effort to the far post to be turned away by Galaxy II goalkeeper Justin vom Steeg. Galaxy II wrapped up the result with eight minutes to go, though, as Hernandez produced a perfectly-placed free kick to the top-right corner before Preston Judd added a fifth with his first professional goal in the final minute.
The result gives Los Dos three points over two games this season, with a +4 goal differential. In 2020, Los Dos finished the regular season 8-6-2 with 26 points (4-3-1 at home and 4-3-1 on the road), earning them second place in Group B standings and clinching a berth in the USL Championship Playoffs for the second-straight season.
LA Galaxy II compete this year in the USL Championship Western Conference Pacific Division for the 2021 campaign alongside the following clubs: Las Vegas Lights FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Diego Loyal SC and Tacoma Defiance.
USLChampionship.com Man of the Match
Josh Drack, LA Galaxy II – Drack notched an assist on the final goal of the night to cap a performance that saw him record five key passes overall, while defensively he won 10 of 14 duels and 5 of 7 tackles and recorded two interceptions.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Kai Koreniuk (Assisted by Owen Lamb, Jorge Hernández) 48’
LA – Chinenye Uche (Own goal) 57’
LA – Daniel Aguirre (Unassisted) 59’
LA – Jorge Hernandez (Unassisted) 82’
LA – Preston Judd (Assisted by Josh Drack) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Marcus Ferkranus (caution) 34’
LV – Bryce Duke (caution) 61’
LA – Justin vom Steeg (caution) 62’
LV – Nathan Sepulveda (caution) 76’
LV – Chinenye Uche (caution) 80’
Lineup:
- LA Galaxy II: Justin Vom Steeg; Owen Lambe (Sebastian Hernandez 85’), Marcus Ferkranus, Jesus Vazquez, Josh Drack; Daniel Aguirre (Taylor Davila 75’), Adrian Gonzalez, Jorge Hernandez (Sebastian Nava 85’); Jonathan Perez (Axel Picazo 46’), Augustine Williams (Preston Judd 45’), Kai Koreniuk.
Substitutions not used: Eric Lopez, Adrian Aguilar.
Head Coach: Junior Gonzalez
STATS: TOTAL SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 10; FOULS: 18; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2.
Referee: Mark Allatin
NOTES:
- LA Galaxy II returned to Dignity Health Sports Park for their second game of the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season against Las Vegas Lights FC on Wednesday night, earning a 5-0 win at home.
- This year, Los Dos are now 1-0-1 with three points, five goals scored and just one conceded for a +4 goal differential.
- LA Galaxy II remain undefeated in eight matches vs. Las Vegas Lights FC all time, going 5-0-3 in that span.
- LA Galaxy II featured five first-team players in the starting XI on Wednesday evening: Justin Vom Steeg, Marcus Ferkranus, Jonathan Perez, Augustine Williams and Kai Koreniuk.
- Head Coach Junior Gonzalez now holds a 16-12-6 record throughout his head coaching tenure with LA Galaxy II and has led the team to two-consecutive playoff appearances.
- In 2020, Los Dos finished the regular season 8-6-2 with 26 points (4-3-1 at home and 4-3-1 on the road), earning them second place in Group B standings and clinching a berth in the USL Championship Playoffs for the second-straight season.
- United Soccer League will feature 31 teams set to play 496 regular season contests over 28 weeks ahead of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs that begin in November.
- LA Galaxy II compete in the USL Championship Western Conference Pacific Division for the 2021 campaign alongside the following clubs: Las Vegas Lights FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Diego Loyal SC and Tacoma Defiance.
- For more information, visit www.lagalaxy.com.
