Starting XI: LA Galaxy vs. Manchester United | July 15, 2017

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LAGalaxy.com

Starting XI


Jon Kempin; Nathan Smith, Daniel Steres, Hugo Arellano, Bradley Diallo; Rafael Garcia, Jaime Villarreal; Bradford Jamieson IV, Raul Mendiola, Ariel Lassiter; Jack McInerney


Available bench players


Brian Rowe, Pele Van Anholt, Dave Romney, Jelle Van Damme, Ashley Cole, João Pedro, Jermaine Jones, Romain Alessandrini, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng, Jack McBean.


Lineup notes


  • The LA Galaxy will host an International friendly match Saturday night at StubHub Center that will pose fish and chips vs. tacos, soccer vs. football and the LA Galaxy vs. Manchester United.
  • Head Coach Curt Onalfo will feature a lineup that will see players a mixture of first-choice players and second choice players and, thanks to unlimited substitutions, a heavy rotation throughout the game, with most of them coming at halftime. The starting group listed above is likely to be switched out in bulk at halftime to limit minutes in the middle of a busy stretch for LA. Additionally, the Galaxy are still without regulars Gyasi Zardes, Sebastian Lletget, Baggio Husidic, Clement Diop and Jose Villarreal.
  • Note: the LA Galaxy lineup will feature 10 players that were either signed from or have spent time within the LA Galaxy Developmental system (Academy or LA Galaxy II). Only Jack McInerney has not gone through either LA Galaxy II or the LA Galaxy Academy.
  • In net, Jon Kempin will make the start in net. Kempin, who joined the Galaxy this offseason from Sporting KC, has started in one MLS match this season. In his MLS career, which began in 2010, he has made seven starts.
  • On the right, Nathan Smith will get the start against Manchester United. Smith is a young and talented outside defender who was developed through the LA Galaxy Academy and LA Galaxy II before signing on with the first team this offseason.
  • In the center of the defense, fellow LA Galaxy II product Dave Romney will make the start against the English side. Romney became the first-ever player to sign with the LA Galaxy II directly from LA Galaxy II and this year, has quietly become one of the most reliable and versatile defenders in MLS.
  • Alongside Romney in the center of defense is another Academy product, Hugo Arellano. Hugo has developed the Galaxy system and with various youth U.S. National sides. He spent last year with LA Galaxy II before signing with the first team this offseason.
  • On the left of the backline is Frenchman Bradley Diallo, another versatile defender who can play either inside or out wide on the back line. Diallo has started in seven MLS games this year and gotten better each game.
  • After making his MLS debut just last month, Jaime Villarreal will continue to play a role with a start Saturday night against United. Villarreal is yet another Homegrown Player who signed with the Galaxy directly from Los Dos.
  • In the center of the midfielder, Rafael Garcia will occupy the space next to Jaime Villarreal. Garcia has continued to be a reliable and versatile player this year, stepping into the lineup when needed at various positions.
  • On the right side of the midfield, Bradford Jamieson IV will get the nod. BJIV is one of the most talented players to come through the LA Galaxy Academy and Galaxy II and will look to showcase that Saturday night. His start comes a few years after making an appearance against United in the Rose Bowl in 2014. He is coming off of a goal in his last match at StubHub Center.
  • In the center of the midfield, Raul Mendiola will start and look to pull the strings on offense. Mendiola is another player who also featured against Manchester in 2014 when the Galaxy faced off in the Rose Bowl.
  • Out wide on the left, Ariel Lassiter, will get the start after promising showings in recent U.S. Open Cup contests. Lassiter, who led USL in scoring a few years prior, has been contibuting to the Galaxy this year with increased minutes.
  • Up top, Jack McInerney will start. Despite being just 24 years old, McInerney has 43 MLS goals in his career that began in 2010.


Game notes


  • Manchester United Roster:
    • Goalkeepers (3): David De Gea, Sergio Romero, Joel Pereira
    • Defenders (12): Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Axel Tuanzebe, Luke Shaw, Demi Mitchell
    • Midfielders (10): Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lindgard. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Scott McTominay, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira
    • Forwards (3): Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku
  • This season in MLS play, the Galaxy are 6-8-4 on the season, scoring 28 goals in 18 matches this year.
  • In all-time MLS matches at StubHub Center, the LA Galaxy have gone 136-51-60 while scoring 443 goals.
  • Since 2002, the LA Galaxy have hosted numerous international exhibition matches at StubHub Center against teams from around the world, including Manchester City, Real Madrid, Tottenham and Chelsea, among others.
  • LA return to MLS action on Wednesday, July 19 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. That match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT and be broadcast live on Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum Deportes.


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