BURNABY, B.C. (Sunday, April 16, 2023) – Playing their second road match of the 2023 campaign, LA Galaxy II earned their first-ever win in MLS NEXT Pro with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Whitecaps FC 2 at Swangard Stadium on Sunday night. Aaron Bibout tallied a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal in the win over Whitecaps FC 2.
LA Galaxy II Firsts
Bibout recorded his first professional goal in the second minute of the match, and ended the contest with a hat-trick. Paulo Rudisill registered his first professional goal in his 2023 debut, logging 62 minutes of action. Additionally, Carson Klein logged his first professional assist in the win over Vancouver.
LA Galaxy Academy
Nine players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy appeared in the match against Vancouver: Carson Klein, Marcus Ferkranus, Diego López, Adrián González, Paulo Rudisill, Alex Alcalá, Jonathan Pérez, Brandon Téllez and Matteo Carbone. Notably, the average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup in the match against Whitecaps FC 2 was 19.4 years of age.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Aaron Bibout, (Carson Klein), 2nd minute: Working down the left flank, Elijah Amadin delivered a cross into the box that Carson Klein headed to Aaron Bibout, who powered his header past Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Max Anchor.
VAN – Gloire Amanda, 44th minute: Whitecaps FC 2 forced Simon Jillson into a save from a corner kick that he initially he tipped onto the crossbar, but the rebound fell to Gloire Amanda, who headed in from close range.
VAN – Kamron Habibullah, 51st minute: A loose ball fell inside the six-yard box to Kamron Habibullah, who fired his shot in from a tight angle.
LA – Aaron Bibout, 56th minute: Attacking down the right wing, Jonathan Pérez delivered a low cross to Alex Alcalá just outside the six-yard box. Alcalá flicked the ball into the path of Aaron Bibout, who calmly poked his shot past the Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper.
LA – Paulo Rudisill, 59th minute: In transition, Jonathan Pérez lofted a cross just outside the six-yard box that Aaron Bibout headed down and forced Max Anchor into a save. Paulo Rudisill was first to the rebound and calmly tapped in from point-blank-range.
VAN – Giovanni Aguillar (Aaron Coupland), 74th minute: Aaron Coupland’s cross from the right side of the penalty area found Giovanni Aguillar, whose lofted headed beat the outstretched arms of LA Galaxy II goalkeeper Simon Jillson.
LA – Aaron Bibout, 88th minute: Jonathan Pérez’s cross from the left side of the 18-yard box picked out Aaron Bibout, whose initial shot was blocked by a Vancouver defender. The Vancouver player tried to clear the ball, but Bibout got a foot out and deflected the ball into the back of the net to complete his hat-trick.
Postgame Notes
- LA Galaxy II earned their first-ever win in MLS NEXT Pro, and improved to 1-1-0 in two matches played on the road during the 2023 campaign.
- Aaron Bibout recorded his first professional hat-trick in the win over Whitecaps FC 2.
- Bibout leads MLS NEXT Pro in shots taken (27) and shots on target (10), while ranking tied for fourth in the league in goals scored (3).
- Paulo Rudisill tallied his first professional goal in the victory against Whitecaps FC 2.
- Carson Klein recorded his first professional assist in the win over Vancouver.
- Jonathan Pérez tallied a game-high four chances created, 19 duels won, six tackles won and eight successful dribbles against Whitecaps FC 2.
- In his first appearance and start of the 2023 campaign, Paulo Rudisill tallied his first career professional goal.
- Ascel Essengue recorded a game-high seven clearances, four interceptions and completed a team-high 54 passes (80.6% pass accuracy).
- Adrián González finished the match with a team-high eight possessions won and completed 52 passes (81.3% pass accuracy).
- Nine players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against Vancouver: Carson Klein, Marcus Ferkranus, Diego López, Adrián González, Paulo Rudisill, Alex Alcalá, Jonathan Pérez, Brandon Téllez and Matteo Carbone.
- LA Galaxy defender Marcus Ferkranus and midfielder Jonathan Pérez were sent on loan to LA Galaxy II for the match against Whitecaps FC 2.
- Notably, the average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup in the match against Whitecaps FC 2 was 19.4 years of age.
Next Game
Next up, LA Galaxy II play host to Austin FC II at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium on Sunday, April 23. The April 23 match kicks off at 5:00 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
LA Galaxy II (1-3-0, 3pts) at Whitecaps FC 2 (2-1-1, 7pts)
Sunday, April 16, 2023 – Swangard Stadium (Burnaby, B.C.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy II 1 3 4
Whitecaps FC 2 1 2 3
Scoring Summary:
LA: Bibout (Klein), 2
VAN: Amanda, 44
VAN: Habibullah, 51
LA: Bibout, 56
LA: Rudisill, 59
VAN: Aguillar (Coupland), 74
LA: Bibout, 88
Misconduct Summary:
VAN: Coupland (caution), 35
LA: Bibout (caution), 54
LA: (caution), 62
LA: Carbone (caution), 69
LA: López (caution), 72
Lineups:
LA: GK Simon Jillson; D Carson Klein, D Marcus Ferkranus ©, D Ascel Essengue, D Elijah Amadin (Matteo Carbone, 62); M Diego López, M Adrián González, M Alex Alcalá (Brandon Téllez, 80), M Jonathan Pérez, M Paulo Rudisill (Axel Picazo, 62); F Aaron Bibout
Substitutes Not Used: GK Nolan Anderson; D Javier Zapien, M Juan Calderón, M Luis Medina
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Aaron Bibout, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Aaron Bibout, 5); FOULS: (Matteo Carbone, Carson Klein, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
VAN: GK Max Anchor; D Malcolm Johnston, D Finn Linder, D Matteo Campagna, D Elage; M Kamron Habibullah (Vasco Fry, 65), M Giovanni Aguillar ©, M Jay Herdman (Joe Hanson, 88), M Antoine Coupland, M Gloire Amanda, F Jean-Claude Ngando
Substitutes Not Used: GK Cohen Park; D Simone Masi, M Lucas Dasovic, M Christian Grego-Taylor; F Michael Hennessy, F Joshue Ndakala
TOTAL SHOTS: 20; SHOTS ON GOAL: 7; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 4
Referee: Mario Alayass
Assistant Referees: Chris Harrop, Matthias Diederichsen
Fourth Official: Mo Mohseni
Weather: Showers, 50 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
