The LA Galaxy Under-19’s advanced to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Final on Sunday with a 2-0 extra time victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Alex Mendez and Efrain Alvarez provided the goals in the final period of extra time to send the Galaxy through to the final. Los Angeles will face New York City FC in Tuesday’s championship game in Kansas City.
“It’s been two straight years to make to the final, but this year things are different, and our team knows it,” Mendez told U.S. Soccer postgame.
The match was a cagey one with the Galaxy having a bulk of the scoring opportunities. Los Angeles’ hopes were boosted in extra time when Vancouver went down to 10 men after a harsh challenge on Jonathan Hernandez.
Up a man, Brian Kleiban’s team finally broke through in the 110th minute when a Mendez free kick deflected off a defender and into the back of the net. The Galaxy put the exclamation point on the win in the dying moments when Uly Llanez found Alvarez who buried his chance at the top of the box.
Although the team went 110 minutes before getting on the board, Mendez insists that the result was never in doubt.
“We know what it is coming by the way the game is flowing and we know that we’ll get on the score sheet. It was just a matter of time of when.”
