BLAINE, Minn. (Wednesday, May 24, 2023) – Playing their 10th match of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season, LA Galaxy II fell 3-2 on the road to MNUFC2 at the National Sports Center on Wednesday night. LA Galaxy Academy forward Juan Calderón scored his first professional goal, while Aaron Bibout tallied his team-leading fifth goal of the season in the match against Minnesota.
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LA Galaxy Academy*
Six players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against MNUFC2: Adrián González, Adam Saldaña, Brandon Téllez, Alex Alcalá, Juan Calderón and Javier Zapien. Additionally, two players with ties to the LAGalaxy Academy appeared as substitutes against Minnesota: Matteo Carbone and Nicholas Dunbar. LA GalaxyNotably, Dunbar made his professional debut in the match against MNUFC2, logging 17 minutes as a second-half substitute. The average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup in the match against MNUFC2 was 19.8.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Juan Calderón, 10th minute: Aaron Bibout’s shot from close range was parried away by the MNUFC2 goalkeeper, but Juan Calderón was first to the rebound and finished from close range.
MIN – Britton Fischer (Diogo Pacheco), 18th minute: Diego Pacheco’s corner-kick service into the penalty box found Britton Fishcer, who headed in the ball into the far corner of the goal.
MIN – Emmanuel Iwe, 68th minute: Simon Jillson made an initial save from point-blank-range, but Emmanuel Iwe was first to the rebound and drilled his shot into the back of the net.
LA – Aaron Bibout (Adrián González), 77th minute: Adrián González’s cross from the right flank picked out Aaron Bibout, who headed in the ball at the back post.
MIN – Juan Mosquera (Diogo Pacheco), 87th minute: Juan Mosquera was released down the left side of the penalty area and his shot from a tight angle beat Simon Jillson at the near post.
Postgame Notes
- Aaron Bibout recorded his team-leading fifth goal of the 2023 campaign in the match against Minnesota.
- Bibout’s five goals scored in 10 games played ranks tied for sixth in the league, while he leads MLS NEXT Pro in shots taken (38) and ranks tied for first in shots on target (14).
- Notably, Bibout hit the post in the 92nd minute of the match against Minnesota.
- Adrián González recorded an assist for a third consecutive match in the loss to MNUFC2.
- González’s three assists leads the team and ranks tied for fifth in the league this season.
- Nineteen-year-old LA Galaxy Academy forward Juan Calderón tallied his first professional goal in the match against MNUFC2.
- Six players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against MNUFC2: Adrián González, Adam Saldaña, Brandon Téllez, Alex Alcalá, Juan Calderón and Javier Zapien.
- Additionally, two players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy appeared as substitutes against Minnesota: Matteo Carbone and Nicholas Dunbar.
- Notably, Dunbar made his professional debut in the match against MNUFC2, logging 17 minutes as a second-half substitute.
- LA Galaxy Academy defender Javier Zapien made his first professional start in the match against Minnesota, logging 90 minutes, five clearances, three interceptions and completing 49 of 53 passes (92.5% pass accuracy).
- Goalkeeper Simon Jillson made six saves in the match against MNUFC2.
- The average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup was 19.8 compared to MNUFC2’s 21.3.
- In five matches played on the road during the 2023 campaign, LA Galaxy II hold a 1-4-1 record (8 GF, 14 GA).
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Next Game
*Next up, LA Galaxy II (2-7-1, 8 points) play host to Whitecaps FC 2 (5-3-1, 14 points) at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium on Sunday, May 28. The May 28 match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com
2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
LA Galaxy II (2-7-1, 8pts) at MNUFC2 (4-2-3, 16 points)
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 – National Sports Center (Blaine, Minn.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy II 1 1 2
MNUFC2 1 2 3
Scoring Summary:
LA: Calderón, 10
MIN: Fischer (Pacheco), 18
MIN: Iwe, 68
LA: Bibout (González), 77
MIN: Mosquera (Pacheco), 87
Misconduct Summary:
LA: Bibout (caution), 16
Lineups:
LA: GK Simon Jillson; D Adrián González, D Javier Zapien, D Ascel Essengue, D Elijah Amadin; M Brandon Téllez (Matteo Carbone, 72), M Adam Saldaña ©, M Juan Calderón (Nicholas Dunbar, 73), M Alex Alcalá, M Axel Picazo (Sergio Villalpando, 72); F Aaron Bibout
Substitutes Not Used: GK Aaron Cervantes; D Owen Bizzaro, D Carson Klein; M Luis Medina
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Aaron Bibout, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Aaron Bibout, 2); FOULS: 7 (Aaron Bibout, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 6
MIN: GK Fred Emmings; D Devin Padelford, D CC Uche, D Britton Fischer, D Mikael Marques (Carlos Leatherman, 45); M Emmanuel Iwe (Juan Mosquera, 72), M Cedrick Gbo (Zaydan Bello, 85), M Diogo Pacheco, M Molik Khan (Loic Mesanvi, 85); F Kameron Lacey
Substitutes Not Used: GK Will Pulisic; M Leo Conneh, M Kage Romanshyn; F Nick Richardson
TOTAL SHOTS: 19; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 16; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 3
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Melissa Gonzalez, Eric Wood
Fourth Official: Brian Wood
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 65 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
