Santino Quaranta scored twice, once on either side of halftime as the Los Angeles Galaxy Reserves opened their Reserve Division schedule with a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution Reserves on Sunday morning.
After an even opening 20 minutes, the Galaxy began to press the action. Josh Tudela played through Mike Casso and Wilmer Lopez fired a left-footed volley on goal, but the Revolution defense was equal to all challenges and the game remained scoreless.
The Galaxy would finally break through in the 33rd minute when Mike Randolph intercepted a loose pass near midfield and broke for goal. Randolph burst forward, slicing between two defenders, before he was taken down inside the box, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Quaranta stepped up and dispatched the corresponding penalty past New England 'keeper Doug Warren, putting LA in front 1-0.
New England would answer just before the end of the first half when Pat Noonan got on the end of a Willie Sims cross and sent a perfectly placed header past Galaxy goalkeeper Lance Friesz, leveling the score at 1-1 going into the half.
LA was back in front just before the hour mark when Quaranta struck his second of the game. A quick outlet pass from Friesz found Casso wide on the left near the midfield stripe. Casso pushed forward and chipped a pass over the Revolution backline for Quaranta who fired a right-footed shot that beat New England 'keeper Brad Knighton high at the right post, putting the Galaxy in front 2-1.
Despite a series of chances for either side, Josh Tudela had a shot tipped off the post while Willie Sims saw his late volley deflected away by Kyle Veris; the score would remain 2-1 until the final whistle, giving the Galaxy Reserves their first win of the season.
Scoring Summary:
LA - Santino Quaranta (Penalty Kick) 33'
NE - Pat Noonan (Willie Sims) 44'
LA - Santino Quaranta (Mike Casso, Lance Friesz) 59'
Los Angeles Galaxy - Lance Friesz, Ian Russell (Steve Cronin 83'), Kyle Veris, Andy O'Shay, Gordon Kljestan, Taylor Canel, Josh Tudela, Wilmer Lopez (Robbie Findley 67'), Mike Randolph, Santino Quaranta ©, Mike Casso.
New England Revolution - Doug Warren (Brad Knighton 46'), Amaechi Igwe, Avery John, Marshall Leonard ©, Joe Franchino, Gary Flood (Miguel Gonzalez 71'), Ryan Solle (Anders Kelto 71'), Wells Thompson, Pat Noonan (Arsene Oka 46'), Willie Sims.
Misconduct Summary:
LA - Mike Casso (yellow card) 36'
LA - Ian Russell (yellow card) 56'
