LA Galaxy II (1-5-3, 6 points) are away from home this week, taking on Portland Timbers 2 (5-3-2, 17 points) at 11 a.m. PT on Friday, May 18 at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Los Dos are back in action fresh off their first win of the 2018 season, a feat they accomplished in outstanding fashion last week against Saint Louis FC. In the match, Efrain Alvarez and Ethan Zubak recorded their first career hat tricks, lifting LA Galaxy II toa huge 6-3 win in front of their home crowd. It was the first time in USL history that two teammates scored a hat trick in the same match. Additionally, Alvarez became the youngest player in USL history to score a hat trick, doing so at the age of 15.
With such an electric performance, expectedly, the team’s spirits have shifted and they are now looking to build on their biggest night of the season.
“The guys are hungry,” said LA Galaxy II Head Coach Mike Muñoz. “We’re relieved. We knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time.”
Portland will be Galaxy’s next chance to get their first road win of the 2018 campaign, with the team going 0-4-1 on the road so far this season. Galaxy II earned wins in both of their matches against Timbers 2 last year, with one-goal victories earned both home and away. Muñoz is expecting a tougher matchup this year.
“They’ve done well this year,” said Muñoz. “They’ve rebuilt their second team so they’re a little better than they have in previous seasons. And it’s a little weird because it’s an 11 a.m. kickoff and it’s on turf in the stadium.”
In their last meeting, LA Galaxy II earned a 3-2 win in the 2017 home finale, with Efrain Alvarez making his LA Galaxy II debut and serving up the game-tying assist in the game. His debut, made at 15 years and 3 months, made him the youngest player to ever feature in a USL game.
Alvarez has helped the Galaxy ignite their offensive spark since his return from an extended stint with the Mexican Youth National Team. Los Dos have combined for ten goals in the last three games. But for Muñoz, the focus this week will be on the Galaxy’s defense.
“While we’ve been scoring a lot of goals, we have to clean up the back a little bit,” Muñoz said. “We’ve been very tough to play against the first half of the season. We have to make sure we get back to that and find the balance between a good attack and a good defense.”
LAST MATCH
LA Galaxy II 6 | Saint Louis FC 3: LA Galaxy II earned their first win of the season in historic, high-scoring fashion. Efrain Alvarez and Ethan Zubak recorded the first hat tricks of their professional career as they became the first USL pairing to score hat tricks in the same game.
Seattle Sounders FC 0 | Portland Timbers 2 1: Eryk Williamson scored a game-winner in the 92nd minute to give Portland all three points as they shutout their opponent for a third consecutive match.
LAST YEAR
Portland Timbers 2 3 | LA Galaxy II 4 – July 9, 2017 | Providence Park
LA Galaxy II 3 | Portland Timbers 2 2 – Oct. 7, 2017 | StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium
2017 RECORD
LA Galaxy II: 8-19-5, 29 points
Portland Timbers 2: 3-23-6, 15 points
GAME NOTES
- LA Galaxy II are 0-4-1 on the road this season. Portland Timbers 2 are 2-1-0 at home this season.
- In his last match, Efrain Alvarez scored his first professional hat trick.
- He became the youngest player in USL history to record a hat trick.
- He has scored four goals in four appearances this season.
- He has scored in back-to-back games.
- In his last match, Ethan Zubak scored his first professional hat trick.
- Zubak and Alvarez became the first pair of teammates to score a hat trick in the same match.
- Los Dos signed seven new players this offseason: Geoffrey Acheampong, Nate Shultz, Emmanuel Appiah, John Requejo, Frank Lopez, Wade Hamilton and Julian Büscher.
- Efrain Alvarez leads the team in goals (4). Julian Büscher and Nate Shultz co-lead the team in assists (2).
- LA Galaxy II finished the 2017 season with a 4-8-4 home record and a 4-11-1 away record.
- Justin Dhillon and Adrian Vera co-led the team in goals in 2017 (6).
- Ethan Zubak led LA Galaxy II in assists in 2017 (3).
- Next, LA Galaxy II will host Las Vegas Lights FC at 7:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 26 at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium. Tickets to that match are on sale here.
