CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy II and Sacramento Republic FC may be new clubs, but head coaches Curt Onalfo and Preki are quite familiar with one another.
The two former MLS managers have faced one another seven times while Onalfo led the Kansas City Wizards and then D.C. United while Preki served as the head coach at Chivas USA before moving to lead Toronto FC. During that span from 2007 to 2010, the pair split their meetings with both men holding a 3-3-1 record in matches against one another.
As MLS bosses the coaching styles could not have been different with Onalfo serving as the attack-minded counterweight to the blunt defensive style of Preki’s teams.
“His teams always play good soccer, they’re always well-organized and they reflect his deep competitive spirit,” Onalfo told LA Galaxy Insider. “The teams are always a reflection of the coach and I’m sure that you can see those qualities in Sacramento.”
To aid in his effort to lead Sacramento through their own inaugural year, Preki enlisted a number of former MLS players including former Chivas USA stalwart Justin Braun as well as several players from the Portland Timbers including goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and Homegrown prodigy Bryan Gallego.
While the Preki-led Sacramento Republic will present a major challenge for Los Dos, the Galaxy II players are confident that they can overcome and earn the team’s second-ever victory.
“They’re going to be a good team. A lot better than what we've seen so far,” said forward Charlie Rugg. “They like to foul in the middle of the field and they’re going to be more physical, but with the way we play, if we move the ball quickly then we can’t really get fouled and they can’t harm us.”
