LOS ANGELES (Sunday, May 23, 2021) – LA Galaxy II (2-2-2, 8 points) fell to Oakland Roots on Sunday night at Dignity Health Sports Park by a score of 3-2, snapping a four-game unbeaten streak. Midfielder Axel Picazo tallied his first career goal as a member of Los Dos in what marked the first ever contest between the two sides.
Neither side clicked into gear in attack early on as an effort by Los Dos’ Kai Koreniuk that dragged wide of the left post in the 10th minute served as the only real chance in the first half-hour. That changed in the 31st minute, though, as the Galaxy II took advantage when Picazo broke forward after winning a 50-50 ball in midfield and found Augustine Williams as he peeled left for a first-time shot that was saved by Oakland goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz. Picazo followed up to score his first goal for Los Dos on the rebound.
To start the second half, Luis Flores made Roots SC history in the 47th minute as he recorded the club’s first goal in the Championship to level the score. After a turnover by the Galaxy II came to Yohannes Harish 35 yards from goal on the right, the Eritrean delivered a ball to the left side of the penalty area for a first-time finish by Flores that found the left side of the net.
Los Dos regained the lead in the 61st minute, though, as Preston Judd battled past a defender to retain possession in the right side of the penalty area, and as he tried to cut the ball back centrally a challenge by Oakland’s Ariel Mbumba deflected the ball into the net from a narrow angle.
The visitors equalized in the 76th minute as Jesus Enriquez sent Akeem Ward into the left side of the penalty and Ward fired a curling shot to the far post that was saved by Galaxy II goalkeeper Eric Lopez, only for Memo Diaz to tuck away the rebound from just outside the six-yard area.
The visitors then took the decisive lead as Jeremy Bokila broke onto a pass by Enriquez and roofed a finish from the left side of the penalty area as the game entered stoppage time.
The loss was Galaxy II’s first in their last five contests, going 2-1-2 with 11 goals during that span. In their next match, LA Galaxy II face Orange County SC on Saturday, May 29 on the road.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Axel Picazo 31’
OAK – Luis Flores (Assisted by Yohannes Harish) 47’
LA – Ariel Mbumba (Own goal) 61’
OAK – Memo Diaz 76’
OAK – Jeremy Bokila (Assisted by Jesus Enriquez) 90’
Lineup:
LA Galaxy II: Eric Lopez; Owen Lambe, Jesus Vazquez, Isaac Bawa, Josh Drack; Axel Picazo, Jorge Hernandez (Taylor Davila 74’), Adrian Gonzalez, Daniel Aguirre, Kai Koreniuk (Preston Judd 46’); Augustine Williams.
Bench: Justin Vom Steeg, Adrian Aguilar, Marcus Ferkranus, Felix Barajas, Victor Valdez.
Head Coach: Junior Gonzalez
Referee: Brandon Stevis
STATS: TOTAL SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 20; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 2.
NOTES:
- LA Galaxy II fell to Oakland Roots at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening.
- The match marked the end of a four-game unbeaten streak for Los Dos.
- This year, Los Dos are now 2-2-2 with eight points, with 11 goals scored and six conceded for a +5 goal differential.
- LA Galaxy II are now 1-2-2 at home this season.
- LA Galaxy II featured three first-team players in the starting XI on Wednesday evening: Eric Lopez, Augustine Williams and Kai Koreniuk.
- Midfielder Axel Picazo scored his first goal as a member of LA Galaxy II.
- Midfielder Jorge Hernandez leads LA Galaxy II in goals this season with three on the year.
- In their next match, LA Galaxy II face Orange County SC on Saturday, May 29 on the road.
- Head Coach Junior Gonzalez now holds a 17-14-7 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.
- 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.
