LA Galaxy II (2-5-1, 7 points) are on the road for a second straight week, this time to face Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (4-3-0, 12 points) on Saturday, May 20 at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas. The match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on LAGalaxy.com/2.
LA met RGVFC twice in 2016, earning shutout wins in both contests. Ariel Lassiter scored in each match and will be the player to watch if he features for Los Dos on Saturday.
Ethan Zubak is available again after serving a one-game suspension for a red card earned against Real Monarchs SLC on May 10. Zubak and Amaya started together in Los Dos’ first four matches of the season, combining for three goals in the stretch. They’ll be up against one of the best defensive sides in the league on Saturday, as RGVFC have allowed on four goals in seven games this season.
LA Galaxy II enter the match after a confidence building, comeback road win over 2016 USL defending champions New York Red Bulls II on Sunday. Adonis Amaya and Justin Dhillon provided second-half goals to lift Los Dos to its first road win of the season and its first three points since a 2-0 season opening win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium on March 25. The win also ended a six-game winless skid for Los Dos.
The return of Amaya and Tyler Turner on Sunday helped bolster the roster, immediately bringing experience back into the squad. The side also welcomed back Los Dos veteran Alejandro Covarrubias this week after he signed with OKC Energy FC in December. But don’t expect Muñoz to steer from playing his youth; Jorge Hernandez dazzled in Sunday’s win, offering the game-winning assist in his third start of the season.
NOTES
· LA Galaxy earned shutout defeats against RGVFC in their two contests last season. In their last meeting, Ariel Lassiter gave LA the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win on Sept. 14 at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium.
· Last time in Texas, LA defeated RGVFC 2-0 behind goals from Ariel Lassiter and Jack McBean.
· The LA Galaxy earned their first away win of the season on Sunday, May 14 against New York Red Bulls. It was the team’s first win since the season opener on March 25 at home.
· The Starting XI included four LA Galaxy members: Hugo Arellano, Nathan Smith, Raul Mendiola and Bradford Jamieson IV.
· One LA Galaxy Academy player started the match; Jorge Hernandez earning his second straight start.
· Former LA Galaxy II Head Coach Curt Onalfo was named LA Galaxy Head Coach on Dec. 13, 2016. Mike Muñoz was named LA Galaxy II Head Coach on Jan. 12, 2017.
· LA Galaxy II finished the 2016 USL Regular Season 12-7-11 (47 points).
· LA Galaxy II led the Western Conference in goals in 2016 (52).
· Next, LA Galaxy II are back at home to host Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, May 20 at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on LAGalaxy.com/2.
