After beginning the season on such a high with an eight-game unbeaten streak, LA Galaxy II have suffered two straight defeats. In their latest downfall they allowed 4 goals in a 4-3 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps 2.
VW2 got the proceedings started quickly with a goal in the third minute. They then raced out to a 3-0 lead before shortly after the 21st minute. Ten minutes before the halftime interval, Jose Villarreal struck a beautiful free kick to cut the lead to two.
Vancouver scored their fourth goal of the night with nine minutes remaining in the match, but the 90 minutes were not up. Denzel Slager cut the lead in half three minutes later. Then, to round off the goal-fest, Jose Villarreal completed his brace from the spot in stoppage time.
The first goal of the night was a very well worked goal from the hosts. Marco Bustos played a long overlapping pass to Kadin Chung. Then, Chung hit a first-time cross towards the far post where Kyle Greig smashed home the opener. Greig scored his second of the match less than fifteen minutes later, putting the Whitecaps in good position to claim three points.
Young Alphonso Davies scored his side’s third goal in the 21st minute. He split the Galaxy defense using his great speed before firing one into the back of the net. At 15 years of age, Davies became the youngest ever to score a goal in the USL.
Villarreal scored a sensational free kick in the 35th minute of the match. He stood over the ball near the top right corner of the eighteen yard box. Villarreal proceeded to curl his effort into the top right corner of the goal spectacularly; he would later score from the spot deep into stoppage time for the Galaxy’s third goal.
The second Galaxy goal came with only six minutes of the 90 remaining. A beautiful ball was played in towards the middle of the area as it evaded a couple of Whitecaps defenders. Slager found himself in space inside the box and slammed the ball home.
The young G’s will go back on the road this coming weekend. They face another Cascadia side in the Seattle Sounders II.
SCORING SUMMARY:
LA GALAXY:
- Jose Villarreal 35′
- Denzel Slager 84′ (Assisted by Jose Villarreal)
- Jose Villarreal (Penalty) 90′
WHITE CAPS FC 2
- Kyle Greig (Assisted by Kadin Chung, Marco Bustos) 3′
- Kyle Greig (Assisted by Daniel Haber, Matthew Baldisimo) 17′
- Alphonso Davies 21′
- Brett Levis 81′
LINEUP:
LA Galaxy II Starting XI: Clement Diop; Lee Nishanian, Jeffrey Payeras (Nathan Smith 74′), Josh Turnley (John Neeskens 89′), Oscar Sorto (Kainoa Bailey 82′); Jaime Villarreal, Alejandro Covarrubias (Ryo Fujii 74′), Raul Mendiola, Denzel Slager; Ethan Zubak (Adonis Amaya 68′), Jose Villarreal
Substitutions not used: Eric Lopez
Attendance: 2,778