CARSON, Calif. – He may be just 19-years-old, but Hugo Arellano was not fazed by his first Major League Soccer action.
The LA Galaxy Academy product earned the nod in central last Saturday in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo, filling in for the suspended Jelle Van Damme. In his first taste of MLS, Arellano provided a solid complement to Dave Romney, helping the Galaxy stop a Houston attack led by Mexican international Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres.
After proving himself up to the task of MLS, the youngster from Norwalk was pleased with his performance.
“It was nerve-wracking at first, but once the whistle blew, this is something that I was born to do,” said Arellano who made his debut after earning more than 180 minutes over the past week with the first team and LA Galaxy II. “It felt incredible in front of all the fans today. It was good that we got a positive result as well, it’s a good debut for me.
“There’s always stuff to improve on. I’ll watch the film, and we’ll work on that. I felt confident on the ball. The team moved the ball well at times, and our midfielders were open, and they made it really easy for me. I owe them a lot of credit, and the team fought hard and got a point.”
Arellano’s shift was not without its learning experiences as the central defender found himself beaten by Houston’s Alberth Ellis on the Dynamo’s second tally of the evening. However, aside from the goal, the young defender excelled, completing more than 90 percent of his passes while making four clearances.
“I’ve debuted a lot of players in this league, a lot of young players over the years. I’ve seen players that look like deer in the headlights, and it’s overwhelming for them, and you need to give them a couple games before they can actually do it. He was not nervous about it,” head coach Curt Onalfo said. “I’m sure he had nerves, but he didn’t show any nerves, and he just stepped in and did a real solid job.”
Van Damme will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Colorado Rapids, but ahead of a busy summer slate, Arellano feels that he’s ready if called upon once again.
“I think that’s the coach’s decision. I felt like I performed well,” he said. “He had the confidence to put me in and start. I know the coach trusts in me, and if my name is called I’ll always be ready.”
