LOS ANGELES (Friday, April 30, 2021) – LA Galaxy II returned to Dignity Health Sports Park to kick off the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season with an in-state matchup vs. Northern California counterparts Sacramento Republic FC. Sacramento FC’s Tucker Bone scored a late winner to earn the visitors to a 1-0 victory against Los Dos on Friday night.
LA Galaxy II started out positive and recorded the first shot of the game after only 90 seconds as Kai Koreniuk forced a low save from Republic FC goalkeeper Tomas Gomez, the first of six shots to Sacramento’s none in the opening 45 minutes in a strong start for Los Dos. The hosts came close again in the 36th minute when forward Preston Judd forced a diving save from Gomez to keep the score level.
In the second half, the visitors grabbed what proved to be the winning goal with eight minutes left. Republic FC’s Shannon Gomez broke into the right side of the penalty area and centered for Bone – on as a second-half substitute – to tap home from eight yards out.
Los Dos had a late chance to equalize three minutes later as Jorge Hernandez sent a free kick from 25 yards over the crossbar, but the visitors were able to hang on for three points.
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.
Scoring Summary:
SAC – Tucker Bone (Assisted by Shannon Gomez) 82’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Jorge Hernandez (yellow) 17’
SAC – Cameron Iwasa (yellow) 29’
SAC – Shannon Gomez (yellow) 57’
SAC – Fatai Alashe (yellow) 61’
LA – Axel Picazo (yellow) 71’
SAC – Luis Felipe Fernandes (yellow) 76’
SAC – Mitchel Taintor (yellow) 84’
Lineup:
LA Galaxy II: Eric Lopez; Owen Lambe, Jesus Vazquez, Marcus Ferkranus, Josh Drack; Taylor Davila (Victor Valdez 86’), Daniel Aguirre, Jorge Hernandez; Axel Picazo (Sebastian Nava 78’), Preston Judd, Kai Koreniuk (Adrian Gonzalez 64’).
Substitutions not used: Justin Vom Steeg, Sebastian Hernandez, Adrian Aguilar, Felix Barajas.
Head Coach: Junior Gonzalez
STATS: TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 19; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1.
Referee: Michael Radchuk
NOTES:
- LA Galaxy II returned to Dignity Health Sports Park to kick off the 2021 USL Championship Regular Season with an in-state matchup vs. Northern California counterparts Sacramento Republic FC on Friday night, falling 1-0 in the contest.
- All time, LA are now 6-11-4 against Sacramento and 2-1-1 in their previous four games.
- The match snapped a three-game unbeaten streak vs. Sacramento Republic FC.
- Both LA Galaxy 2021 MLS SuperDraft selections both featured in the starting lineup on Friday: Preston Judd and Josh Drack.
- The contest featured three LA Galaxy players in the Starting XI: Eric Lopez, Marcus Ferkranus and Kai Koreniuk.
- 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.
- Head Coach Junior Gonzalez holds an 15-12-6 record throughout his head coaching tenure with LA Galaxy II and has led the team to two-consecutive playoff appearances.
- 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.
