Either upset with the CONCACAF Champions League after last week’s refereeing shenanigans or prioritizing MLS play very, very, very far ahead of the region’s championship club competition, Bruce Arena started zero first choice players on Wednesday night against the Puerto Rico Islanders. It didn’t matter either, as the LA Galaxy destroyed Puerto Rico 4-0 to move to the top of Group 5.
LA Galaxy Vs. Puerto Rico Islanders, 2012 CONCACAF Champions League: LA Reserves Win 4-0
The Galaxy got going early when Tommy Meyer was able to sneak away from his marker on a Kenny Walker corner kick in the seventh minute. Free from his marker, he nodded home from six yards and LA was in front.
Despite the first half being mostly one-way traffic, the Galaxy couldn’t add to their lead. They missed chances as their inexperience showed in front of goal.
None of that would matter in the second half because LA poured it on the over-matched Islanders. It took two minutes for them to double their lead as Jack McBean flicked a Hector Jimenez long ball into the path of Jose Villarreal, who held off several defenders before finding the net.
In the 80th minute, McBean was able to get on the scoresheet himself when he got on the end of a Michael Stephens cross. His initial volleyed effort was blocked, but the ball came right back to him and he was able to fire past Richard Martin on his second effort.
Two minutes later, Stephens did the scoring when Pari Pantazopoulos’s sliding clearance of a pass turned into a perfect through ball to the Galaxy midfielder. That put Stephens in all alone on goal for a simple finish and completed the Galaxy reserves’ easy win.
LA is first place in Group 5 on six points, three points clear of second place Metapan, while Puerto Rico is at the bottom without a point. The Galaxy did play their first two matches at home, though, and have to head on the road for their next two so this group could still turn.
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