CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo was brilliant with a career-high 10 saves in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000 at StubHub Center. But it was another member of the Galaxy who did not show up on the score sheet but earned almost as many rave reviews from his teammates.
Rafael Garcia, making his first start in midfield in almost two years – his last appearance in the starting XI was on June 9, 2013 against the Portland Timbers – was nothing short of superb.
The unheralded 26-year-old, who had played just four minutes all season, went the full 90 minutes on Sunday. Some even called him the man of the match, but he downplayed such plaudits.
“I guess,” he said. “I felt like I went out there and did my job, what was asked of me today. The most important thing was we got three points. I’m happy I got to step on the field tonight, but the most important thing for me was getting a victory.”
Garcia, originally selected in the second round of the 2012 Supplemental Draft, is in his fourth season and is popular among his teammates. He’s often been praised for his work ethic in training and captained the club’s USL Pro side, Galaxy II, last season.
With Robbie Keane and Mike Vayrynen out with injuries, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena was forced to do a little lineup reshuffling Sunday.
Garcia said he found out early last week he would be starting and he came through with an impressive, albeit understated performance.
“Fantastic,” the Galaxy’s Baggio Husidic said of Garcia. “To me he was the man of the match. He came in, fought well. He was tough.
“We’re all happy for him.”
Said Arena, “He played very well. I don’t know how much he’s played with us in the past, but he put in an excellent shift today. A very good night.
“He’s been with us a number of years now, so he’s quite capable of stepping in and performing.”
Garcia said his inactivity with the first team hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, but he definitely was ready when called upon.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, up and down,” he said. “I worked really hard in the offseason, and when you get an opportunity to step in … guys like Juni (Juninho) making the transition a lot easier, the leadership of Omar back there.
“I felt really comfortable tonight. I don’t think I did anything out of the ordinary. I feel I did what was asked of me. Any time you step on the field you have to prove yourself. Today I like to say I did a pretty good job, but it’s never enough. You have to move forward and keep grinding.
“My team has confidence in me, the coaches have confidence in me. That’s the most important part.”
