TUCSON, Ariz. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano provides his Three Things We Learned from the LA Galaxy’s 3-1 preseason defeat to Real Salt Lake.
PERIOD ONE: PERRY KITCHEN SHOWS HIS QUALITY
In the LA Galaxy’s first 30 minutes of the 2018 season, midfielder Perry Kitchen was a real bright spot for Sigi Schmid’s squad.
In his brief showing, Kitchen provided the Galaxy with a two-way presence that they seemed to lack during their dissapointing 2017 campaign. Not only did Kitchen shield his defense from his holding midfield role, but he was responsible for starting several promising Galaxy counterattacks with his clever passing.
The 25-year-old may be a newcomer to the Galaxy, but on Saturday, Kitchen looked right at home in the team’s midfield.
PERIOD TWO: SEBASTIAN LLETGET RETURNS TO THE FIELD
Sebastian Lletget was all smiles after earning his first minutes for the LA Galaxy after his horrific injury last spring.
Lletget played 20 minutes for the Galaxy with the team’s second group in their preseason exhibition against RSL. The 25-year-old midfielder showed flashes of his old self, providing the assist on Michael Ciani’s header for game’s opening goal.
The job is not done for the talented midfielder, however, as he showed signs of rust during his shift. Although his appearance wasn’t perfect, Lletget has reason to be encouraged by his return.
PERIOD THREE: ALEX MENDEZ GETS MINUTES WITH THE FIRST TEAM
The third and final period of the LA Galaxy’s friendly didn’t provide the best soccer, but Sigi Schmid got a chance to take a look at youngster Alex Mendez in his first action for the first squad.
The 17-year-old Mendez was one of two Galaxy Academy players to earn minutes Saturday, with Ulysses Llanez playing 30 minutes with the second group. During Mendez’s brief appearance, the Academy product exhibited signs of promise with solid service on set pieces and a few promising defensive plays in central midfield.
Despite the Galaxy conceding twice during his time on the field, the teenager from Los Angeles has shown over the past week that he can hold his own with professionals.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at www.LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
