LAS VEGAS – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano provides the Three Things We Learned from the Galaxy’s 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes in the California Clásico Cup in Las Vegas. Olmes Garcia scored the winning goal for the Quakes in the 89th minute.
LA GALAXY STARTERS PROGRESS WITH THEIR FITNESS
Curt Onalfo continued to move his squad along in their preseason preparation by providing extended minutes to many key starters.
Onalfo waited until the 62nd minute to spell nine of starters while giving Sebastian Lletget and Giovani dos Santos 45 minutes apiece. Both Dos Santos and Lletget were spelled early after logging heavy minutes with their national teams in recent weeks.
As Onalfo prepares his team for the Home Opener on March 4, expect the Galaxy boss to continue to increase his team’s minutes in preseason matches.
JOÃO PEDRO MAKES HIS LA GALAXY DEBUT
New midfielder João Pedro made his LA Galaxy debut in the team’s 1-0 loss to San Jose.
Sporting his No. 8 Galaxy kit, the Portuguese midfielder went 27 minutes in his first competitive action since being signed from Portuguese club Vitória Guimarães last month. Pedro’s first appearance was relatively limited, but the midfielder played a role in several attacking buildup plays for the Galaxy.
After two weeks away from training, Onalfo will now look to integrate Pedro into the first team squad and could potentially earn give the midfielder a start next week in a closed-door scrimmage against Alashkert FC.
RAFA THE RIGHT BACK?
Rafael Garcia made his second appearance of the preseason at right back and once again put forth a solid performance.
With Robbie Rogers sidelined due to an ankle injury, head coach Curt Onalfo has tasked Garcia with covering the outside back position in his absence. A defensive midfielder by trade, Garcia has appeared well suited to the position’s defensive responsibilities but remains a work in progress offensively.
Against the Earthquakes, Garcia put forth a capable showing on the defensive side, while also aiding in the attack. With Rogers still unavailable and not yet in training, Garcia has a legitimate chance to open the season as the team’s first choice right back.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
