MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy close out preseason with 2-1 win over UCLA in Carson

Published on March 10, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


CARSON, Calif. ‚¬" Goals from Juninho and Landon Donovan on either side of halftime gave the LA Galaxy a 2-1 win over UCLA in their final preseason game of the year at The Home Depot Center.

Fielding a nearly full strength squad, the Galaxy controlled the first half, maintaining possession and limiting UCLA ‚¬â„¢s chances in the opening 15 minutes. LA ‚¬â„¢s first serious chance came in the 15th minute when Juan Pablo Angel headed a David Beckham corner kick off the crossbar. The ball bounced straight down, but did not go over the line and was cleared from danger, keeping the game scoreless.

It would stay that way for just seven more minutes until Juninho opened the scoring. The second-year Brazilian midfielder hit a low, right-footed shot through a maze of bodies, beating the UCLA keeper just inside his right post, putting the Galaxy in front 1-0.

Angel nearly doubled the lead just three minutes later, only to see his shot from a tight angle strike the outside of the post and deflecting out of bounds for a goal kick.

Bruce Arena named an unchanged side at the start of the second half and just five minutes after the restart, his team was up 2-0. Angel collected the ball 35 yards from goal and quickly played the ball to Chad Barrett at the top of the box. Barrett settled the pass and played a ball into the path of Landon Donovan inside the penalty area on the left. Donovan cut in on his right foot and dribbled between two defenders before rolling a right-footed shot inside the far post for a 2-0 lead.

LA ‚¬â„¢s two-goal lead was short-lived as the Bruins cut the lead to 2-1 five minutes later as a loose ball fell to one of the UCLA forwards at the top of the box and he beat Josh Saunders from 16 yards out.

Ten minutes after their goal, the Bruins nearly got an equalizer. Josh Saunders parried a long range shot and the Bruins were the first to get to the rebound, only to see the follow up shot hit Saunders ‚¬â„¢ left post before A.J. DeLaGarza was able to clear the ball from danger.

Second half substitutes Frankie Hejduk and Miguel Lopez each tested the UCLA defense in the game ‚¬â„¢s final 15 minutes, but neither could extend the Galaxy lead before the final whistle.

Check out the LA Galaxy Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from March 10, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central