Playing their first game in more than two months, the LA Galaxy Rserves claimed their first win of the season on Friday morning, defeating the Chivas USA Reserves 5-3 at The Home Depot Center. Alan Gordon and Carlos Ruiz each scored twice for the Galaxy who are now 1-3-1 in the Reserve Division. With the loss, Chivas USA falls to 1-2-3 on the season.
The match did not start well for the Galaxy who found themselves behind 1-0 inside the opening two minutes as Cameron Dunn scored to give Chivas USA the advantage.
However, the game was back on level terms in the 15th minute when Alan Gordon scored his first of the match. Carlos Ruiz was able to pick out Josh Tudela behind the Chivas defense, and his cross found Gordon free in the center of the box to power a header past Dan Kennedy, making the score 1-1.
Despite a series of near misses for both sides, the score stayed 1-1 until the 40th minute when Chivas USA went back in front. Julian Valentin fouled Nick Blanco in the box, and Dan Paladini stepped up to convert the penalty, beating Galaxy guest goalkeeper Jordan King to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Once again however, that lead would be shortlived as Carlos Ruiz grabbed his first of the game just before halftime, sending the game into the intermission all square at 2-2.
The Galaxy would grab their first lead of the contest just before the hour mark when Ruiz scored his second of the game, converting from the penalty spot to give his team a 3-2 lead. Alan Gordon broke into the box on the left and was pulled down as he attempted to get his shot of leading to the penalty, which Ruiz calmly placed low to his left for the goal.
Down for the first time all game, Chivas USA responded and was able to score an equalizer less than 10 minutes later. A combination of passes between Keith Savage and Nick Blanco allowed Savage to get free inside the box and slide a short pass to Chiles, whose low shot beat King inside his right post, making the score 3-3.
It would stay that way until the 85th minute when Alan Gordon score what would prove to be the game-winner. A botched clearance inside the Chivas USA penalty area allowed the ball to pop free to a wide open Carlos Ruiz, whose first time pass found Gordon all alone inside the box for a simple header that left Chivas goalkeeper Lance Parker with no chance and put LA in front for good at 4-3.
Israel Sesay rounded out the scoring in the game's final minutes, beating a pair of defenders on the left flank and slamming a shot past Parker at the near post for his first goal of the season and giving the game its final 5-3 scoreline.
Scoring Summary:
CHV - Cameron Dunn (Ian Etherington) 2'
LA - Alan Gordon (Josh Tudela, Carlos Ruiz) 15'
CHV - Dan Paladini (Penalty Kick) 40'
LA - Carlos Ruiz (Josh Tudela) 45'
LA - Carlos Ruiz (Penalty Kick) 58'
CHV - Kraig Chiles (Keith Savage, Nick Blanco) 66'
LA - Alan Gordon (Carlos Ruiz) 85'
LA - Israel Sesay (Unassisted) 89'
Lineups:
LA Galaxy Reserves - Jordan King, Michael Gavin, Greg Folk, Julian Valentin, Raul Palomares, Alvaro Pires, Israel Sesay, Josh Tudela, Mike Munoz, Alan Gordon©, Carlos Ruiz .
Subs not used: None
Chivas USA Reserves - Dan Kennedy (Lance Parker 46'), Brent Whitfield, Cameron Dunn, Jim Curtin© (Erik Robert 46'), Gerson Mayen, Dan Paladini, Kraig Chiles, Keith Savage, Ian Etherington, Nick Blanco, Anthony Hamilton.
Subs not used: None
Misconduct Summary:
None
