Photo by Robert Mora/LA Galaxy
CARSON, Calif. -- Whether it's with the LA Galaxy Academy, Reserve League squad or first team, Oscar Sorto has shown his skills at the young age of 18.
Sorto started and went a full 90 minutes during the LA Galaxy Under-18's 3-1 victory over the Chivas USA Under-18's on Sunday.
The Academy victory comes days after Sorto went 22 minutes in the Galaxy's 2-0 Reserve League victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps last Friday, playing primarily at right back. His stint against Vancouver was Sorto's sixth of the year with LA's Reserve Squad. His integration into the first team aside, it has been a whirlwind year for Sorto, who told LA Galaxy Insider last month that he was in conversations with the club for a Homegrown deal, just weeks after traveling to Sweden to train with Hammarby. With Sorto racking up experience with the first team, Galaxy U-18 head coach Eddie Soto is full of praise for the youngster from South Central Los Angeles.
“He’s very honest and a mature player. He’s doing really well with the first team and today was no exception,” said Soto on Sunday after LA’s victory over Chivas. “He’s probably one of the most consistent players that I've ever coached in all my years. He did well today, maybe a little more from him on the ball, but you're going to expect more with guys like that.”
Below Sorto discusses how his life with the Academy has changed now that he is training regularly with the first team.
(On playing with Academy after training with first team…)
SORTO: “It’s pretty hard, trying to communicate with the younger players because with the first team and the reserves, we have a different style of playing that is more offensive, but with the Academy, it’s more about possession.”
(On being a leader with the U-18s…)
SORTO: “I try to show the rest of players that I’m here for them to be their leader. For that, I have to work hard, both for me and for the team to show them that anyone can make it if you try.”
(On what can be learned from playing in the SuperClasico…)
SORTO: “You can learn a lot because at the next level, you're going to need to be physical all the time. I think that playing against Chivas is a good challenge for us.”
