The Los Angeles Galaxy reserves (4-2-2, 14 pt.) tied its second game of the season in a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire reserves (5-2-3, 18 pts.) on Monday morning at The Home Depot Center on the Campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. Los Angeles earned goals from midfielder David Johnson and defender Ugo Ihemelu, while Chicago midfielder Hemir Niebles and forward Andy Herron each found the back of the net for the Fire.
In the first half, defense was the story as the Galaxy's back four, made up of all guest players led by Dru Hoshiyima, contained the Fire denying them on several set pieces and a few long distance attempts by Niebles and Will John. On the opposite side, Chicago veterans D CJ Brown and D Jim Curtin anchored the backline with the only mishap a dangerous run by the Galaxy's Memo Gonzalez. However, Curtin's tackle inside the box, which sent Gonzalez to the ground, was ruled clean by the referee.
The Galaxy's Johnson opened the scoring in 63rd minute finishing off a skillfully crafted build up from Gonzalez to Naldo da Conceicao, who beat the Fire's Brown on the dribble and sent a low cross into the box for Johnson to finish for the 1-0 lead.
However, Niebles, a 2002 Galaxy first overall draft pick, would pull the Fire even in the 61st minute, 1-1. Off a direct kick, M Will John sent a bending ball that dropped over the wall and forced a leaping save by Galaxy GK Steve Cronin. Niebles was waiting as the rebound came off the cross bar and landed at his feet for the easy finish.
In the 85th minute, Costa Rican Andy Herron would give Chicago a 2-1 advantage. He earned an opportunistic goal as he charged Los Angeles GK Cronin on a back pass and blocked the attempted clearance and then slotted a low shot into the empty net.
Second half substitute Ugo Ihemelu sealed the draw for the Galaxy with his first goal of reserve season in the 87th minute with the game ending 2-2. Following a cleared free kick, the ball was sent back into the mix where Hoshiyima touched the loose ball wide for Ihemelu, whose shot deflected just inside the far post.
Scoring Summary:
LA - David Johnson (Naldo Da Conceicao, Memo Gonzalez) 50
CHI - Hemir Niebles (Unassisted) 53
CHI - Andy Herron(Unassisted) 85
LA - Ugo Ihemelu (Dru Hoshimiya) 68
Chicago Fire Reserves - David Mahoney, CJ Brown, Jim Curtin, Jack Stewart, Ryan Futagaki (David Henning 66), Will John, Kenneth Robinson (Demitrius White 63), Hemir Niebles (Andy Herron 75), Omar McFarlane, Will Johnson, Andy Rosenband.
SUBS NOT USED: Danny Waltman, Brad Wilson, Taylor McCool.
Los Angeles Reserves - Steve Cronin, Tim Roty, Aaron Lopez, Dru Hoshimiya, Michael Nsien, David Johnson, Memo Gonzalez, Mamba Chisoni (Ugo Ihemelu 79), Josh Gardner, Alan Gordon (Mike Enfield 70), Naldo Da Conceicao.
SUBS NOT USED: Steve Gonzalez, Darren Williams.
Misconduct Summary:
LA - Naldo Da Conceicao (yellow) 4
CHI - CJ Brown (yellow) 4
LA - Michael Nsien (yellow) 17
CHI - Omar McFarlane (yellow) 58
LA - Dru Hoshimiya (yellow) 61
Referee: Mark Geiger; Referee's Assistants: Frank Anderson, Blake Harper; 4th Official: Ian Anderson.
Attendance: 250; Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees.
