CARSON, Calif. — LA Galaxy Academy players Raul Mendiola and Oscar Sorto helped the Galaxy Reserves claim their first win of the season on Monday, beating Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 at The Home Depot Center. The duo, who helped the Galaxy U-18’s claim a 4-0 win over Strikers FC in Development Academy play on Saturday, each came on as second half substitutes with the score tied 0-0 and were on the field when Rafael Garcia scored the game-winning goal with a 90th minute header.
RECAP: Galaxy get first Reserve League win of the season, beat Sounders 1-0
Mendiola, who made his Reserve League debut two weeks ago against Chivas USA, collected his first-ever Reserve League assist against the Sounders, crossing from the left flank for Garcia’s game-winning header. Mendiola, who is in his first season with the Academy, entered the game in the 77th minute for Kyle Nakazawa and terrorized Seattle’s right back in his short time on the field. His hard work paid off in the 90th minute when he tracked down a Hector Jimenez cross; he then beat his man to the endline before clipping a cross into the center of the box for Garcia to power a header home for the game-winning goal.
Sorto made his Reserve League debut in the 87th minute, coming on at right back in place of Bryan Jordan.
Former Galaxy Academy star Jose Villarreal, who signed with the club as a Homegrown Player in December, also made an appearance in the game, replacing Pat Noonan in the 70th minute. Immediately after coming on, Villarreal created a trio of scoring chances, combining well up front with Adam Cristman, but he was unable to find a way past Seattle goalkeeper Brian Meredith.
