LOS ANGELES (Sunday, April 23, 2023) – Playing their third home match of the 2023 campaign, LA Galaxy II earned a 1-1 draw in regulation and defeated Austin FC II 5-4 in the penalty-kick shootout at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium on Sunday night.
LA Galaxy II Firsts
Defender Matteo Carbone made his first professional start, logging 45 minutes and recorded four possessions won. In his first start of the 2023 campaign, Axel Picazo recorded his first goal of the season. Jonathan Pérez registered his first assist of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season in the penalty-shootout win over Austin.
Penalty-Kick Shootout Victory
In their first-ever penalty-kick shootout in MLS NEXT Pro, LA Galaxy II defeated Austin FC II 5-4. Paulo Rudisill, Brandon Téllez, Diego López, Jonathan Pérez each converted their penalty kicks, with Elijah Amadin scoring the game-winning penalty kick in the shootout win over Austin as Los Dos are awarded an additional point (2 points total). **
LA Galaxy Academy**
Seven players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against Austin: Carson Klein, Marcus Ferkranus, Matteo Carbone, Adrián González, Adam Saldaña, Alex Alcalá, Jonathan Pérez, Brandon Téllez and Matteo Carbone. Additionally, four players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy appeared as substitutes against Austin FC II: Diego López, Paulo Rudisill, Brandon Téllez and Allan Legaspi. Notably, the average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup in the match against Austin FC II was 19.9 years of age.
Goal-Scoring Plays
ATX – Bobosi Byaruhanga, 21st minute: Working down the left of the penalty area, Micah Burton delivered a pass across the face of goal to Bobosi Byaruhanga, who took a touch and snuck his shot past LA Galaxy II goalkeeper Simon Jillson from close range.
LA – Axel Picazo (Jonathan Pérez), 41st minute: Jonathan Pérez dispossessed the ball from an Austin defender on the right side of the penalty area. Pérez then floated a cross to the left side of the box to Axel Picazo, who volleyed his shot past Austin goalkeeper Damian Las into the far corner.
Postgame Notes
- Following a 1-1 draw in regulation against Austin FC II, LA Galaxy II earned their first-ever penalty-kick shootout win (5-4) in MLS NEXT Pro, and improved to 1-3-1 (5 points) during the 2023 campaign.
- Paulo Rudisill, Brandon Téllez, Diego López, Jonathan Pérez each converted their penalty kicks, with Elijah Amadin scoring the game-winning penalty kick in the shootout win over Austin.
- In his first start of the 2023 campaign, Axel Picazo recorded his first goal of the season.
- Jonathan Pérez registered his first assist of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season in the penalty-shootout win over Austin.
- Seven players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against Austin: Carson Klein, Marcus Ferkranus, Matteo Carbone, Adrián González, Adam Saldaña, Alex Alcalá, Jonathan Pérez, Brandon Téllez and Matteo Carbone.
- Additionally, four players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy appeared as substitutes against Austin FC II: Diego López, Paulo Rudisill, Brandon Téllez and Allan Legaspi.
- Marcus Ferkranus finished the match with a game-high 102 completed passes (89.5% pass accuracy) and five clearances.
- Adam Saldaña completed 93 of 97 passes attempted (95.9% pass accuracy), while winning four possessions, four duels and two tackles.
- Simon Jillson recorded four saves in regulation against Austin, including making a save in the penalty-kick shootout win on Austin FC II defender Salvatore Mazzaferro.
- Notably, the average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup in the match against Austin FC II was 19.9 years of age.
- In three matches played at home during the 2023 campaign, Los Dos hold an 0-2-1 record, with one shootout win.
Next Game
Next up, LA Galaxy II travel to face the Tacoma Defiance at Starfire Stadium on Sunday, April 30. The April 30 match kicks off at 8:00 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com
2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
LA Galaxy II (1-3-1, 5pts) vs. Austin FC II (4-0-2, 14pts)
Sunday, April 23, 2023 – Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium (Los Angeles)
Goals by Half 1 2 F (PKs)
LA Galaxy II 1 0 1 (5)
Austin FC II 1 0 1 (4)
Scoring Summary:
ATX: Byaruhanga, 21
LA: Picazo (Pérez), 41
Penalty-Kick Shootout Summary
1 ATX: Noel - Goal
1 LA: Rudisill – Goal
2 ATX: Byaruhanga – Miss
2 LA: Téllez – Goal
3 ATX: Toure – Goal
3 LA: Pérez – Goal
4 ATX: Asensio – Goal
4 LA: López – Goal
5 ATX: Pineau – Goal
5 LA: Saldaña – Saved
6 ATX: Mazzaferro – Saved
6 LA: Amadin – Goal
Misconduct Summary:
ATX: Walti (caution), 29
ATX: Mazzaferro (caution), 34
LA: Klein (caution), 43
ATX: Hafferty (caution), 52
ATX: Louis Jean (caution), 83
Lineups:
LA: GK Simon Jillson; D Carson Klein (Allan Legaspi, 64), D Marcus Ferkranus, D Ascel Essengue, D Matteo Carbone (Elijah Amadin, 45); M Adrián González (Diego López, 80), M Adam Saldaña ©, M Alex Alcalá (Brandon Téllez, 80), M Jonathan Pérez, M Axel Picazo (Paulo Rudisill, 64); F Aaron Bibout
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lucca Adams; F Juan Calderón, F Julian Placias
TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Jonathan Pérez, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Jonathan Pérez, Axel Picazo, 1); FOULS: 12 (Ascel Essengue, Carson Klein, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 4
ATX: GK Damian Las; D Cheick Toure, D Kipp Keller, D Salvatore Mazzaferro, D Joe Hafferty (Charlie Asensio, 68); M Jackson Walti (Steeve Louis Jean, 45), M Valentin Noel, M Bobosi Byaruhanga, F David Rodriguez (Emmanuel Johnson, 67), F Micah Burton (CJ Fodrey, 45), F Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Sebastian Pineau, 74)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Eric Lopez; D Anthony De Anda, F Jonathan Santillan
TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 9; OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 1
Referee: Brad Jensen
Assistant Referees: Melissa Gonzalez, Loren Barnett
Fourth Official: Adam Zarrin
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 69 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
