CARSON, Calif. -- A.J. DeLaGarza made a major step forward in his recovery from a left foot injury on Sunday by going 90 minutes for LA Galaxy II in their scoreless draw with Real Monarchs SLC, and now that performance could see him return to the lineup for this weekend's match against D.C. United.
With Bruce Arena and the rest of the Galaxy staff watching from the StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium stands, DeLaGarza put in a confident performance as he helped Los Dos keep the Real Salt Lake USL affiliate off the scoreboard. The action was just DeLaGarza's third in-game stint in 2015 as he played briefly during the club's home opener against Chicago Fire and then again in an small scrimmage between the first team and Los Dos a week later.
"He played well," Arena said. "He's coming back and needed to get a game in. I think overall, it was a positive showing."
LA GALAXY YOUNGSTERS HEAD OUT ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
The LA Galaxy will have three of their bright young stars join U.S. youth national teams during the upcoming international window.
LA will have two representatives on the U.S. Under-23 squad as defender Oscar Sorto and Galaxy II striker Ariel Lassiter were named to the head coach Andres Hertzog's European camp that will feature matches against Bosnia & Herzegovina's U-23 squad on March 27 and Denmark's U-23's on March 31. Lassiter will be making his first appearance for the U.S. youth squad while Sorto, who trained with the senior national team in January, is expecting to take a leadership role with the squad.
"I'm going to ge tthere with confidence. I know what the coach wants from each player. I'm feeling very confident that I know how Hertzog wants to prepare and play," said Sorto. "This camp is going to be tough because I know that there will be a lot of players from around the world fighting for positions, but I think it's going to be a fun experience."
While the U-23's are training on the old continent, Galaxy Homegrown Player Bradford Jamieson IV and the U.S. Under-20's will train for a week in England. During their training camp in London, Jamieson IV and the rest of Tab Ramos' squad will face Tottenham Hotspur’s U-21 team on March 27 in London, and then England’s Under-21 Men’s National Team on March 29
"It feels good to join the squad. It's going to be great facilities and good competition over there with our two games," said Jamieson. "I love playing in England because soccer is a lifestyle there, and everyone loves the game so it makes it a good place to play."
ALAN GORDON ON TAILGATES AND BEING A FACE TO THE GALAXY SUPPORTERS
No LA Galaxy player this side of David Beckham has ever gone from hated foe to reviered hero faster than Alan Gordon.
After making a habit of scoring against the Galaxy during his time with Chivas USA and Toronto FC, Gordon morphed into a true villian during his time with the hated San Jose Earthquakes. However, after returning to the club via a trade with San Jose last year, Gordon has endeared himself to LA supporters with five goals in 2014, and another in the early stages of the 2015 season.
Gordon has not only won the hearts of minds of Galaxy fans on the field, however, as he's also displayed a willingness to make his presence felt with supporters by buying pizzas and kegs at Galaxy matches. The 33-year-old was at it again on Sunday when he brought a keg of beer to tailgaters at Galaxy II's season opener.
For Gordon, who went from enemy to hero faster than any player in Galaxy history, such fan support initatives are incredibly important for him and the team.
"I was asked to draw some attention to Galaxy II and help bring people to support our young guys. We take a lot of the headlines [with the first team] so we know that we need to have people come out and follow some of our youngest players"
