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MLS NEXT Pro LA Galaxy II

LA Galaxy II Earn Penalty-Kick Win over Whitecaps FC

May 29, 2023 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
LA Galaxy II News Release


LOS ANGELES - Playing their sixth match at home during the 2023 campaign, LA Galaxy II earned a 2-2 draw in regulation and defeated Whitecap FC 2 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout at Dignity Health Sports Park's Track & Field Stadium on Sunday night.

Penalty-Kick Shootout Victory

In their second-ever penalty-kick shootout in MLS NEXT Pro, LA Galaxy II defeated Whitecaps FC 2 4-2. Adrián González, Brandon Téllez, Juan Calderón and Aaron Bibout each converted their penalty kicks in the shootout win over Whitecaps FC 2 as Los Dos were awarded an additional point (2 points total). Goalkeeper Novak Mićović recorded two saves in the penalty-kick shootout. Los Dos ranks tied for third in the Western Conference with two penalty-kick shootout wins this season.

Bibout Scoring Goals

Aaron Bibout recorded two goals in regulation and converted the clinching penalty kick in the shootout win over Whitecaps FC II. Notably, Bibout ranks tied for first in MLS NEXT Pro with seven goals scored in 11 games played during the 2023 campaign. Additionally, Bibout leads the league in shots taken (40) and shots on target (16) this season.

LA Galaxy Academy

LA Galaxy Academy defender Owen Bizzaro made his professional and LA Galaxy II debut, starting and playing 60 minutes in the win against Whitecaps FC 2. Five players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against Whitecaps FC 2: Bizzaro, Jacob Zapien, Adrián González, Adam Saldaña and Alex Alcalá. Additionally, three players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy appeared as substitutes against Vancouver: Brendan Bell, Matteo Carbone, Juan Calderón and Brandon Téllez. The average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup in the match against Whitecaps FC 2 was 19.4.

Goal-Scoring Plays

LA - Aaron Bibout (Alex Alcalá), 27th minute: Axel Picazo's shot from the edge of the box forced Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Max Anchor into a save. Alex Alcalá pounced on the rebound and laid the ball off into the middle of six-yard box to Aaron Bibout, who fired the ball into the back of the net.

VAN - Joshue Ndakala , 34th minute: Novak Mićović made the initial save from a shot from point-blank-range, but Joshue Ndakala was first to the loose ball and shot in from close range.

LA - Aaron Bibout, 51st minute: Aaron Bibout dispossessed the ball from a Vancouver defender at the top of the penalty area and slid his shot into the lower right corner of the goal.

VAN - Malcolm Johnston , 52nd minute: A cross was floated into the box to Malcolm Johnston, who equalized for Whitecaps FC 2 one minute later.

Postgame Notes

Aaron Bibout recorded two goals in regulation and converted the clinching penalty kick in the shootout win over Whitecaps FC II.

Notably, Bibout ranks tied for first in MLS NEXT Pro with seven goals scored in 11 games played during the 2023 campaign.

Additionally, Bibout leads the league in shots taken (40) and shots on target (16) this season.

Alex Alcalá recorded his first professional assist in the match against Vancouver.

LA Galaxy II ranks tied for third in the Western Conference with two penalty-kick shootout wins this season.

Five players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy started in the match against Whitecaps FC 2: Owen Bizzaro, Jacob Zapien, Adrián González, Adam Saldaña and Alex Alcalá.

Additionally, three players with ties to the LA Galaxy Academy appeared as substitutes against Vancouver: Brendan Bell, Matteo Carbone, Juan Calderón and Brandon Téllez.

LA Galaxy Academy defender Owen Bizzaro made his professional and LA Galaxy II debut, starting and tallying two interceptions, three tackles won and two clearances in 60 minutes of action against Whitecaps FC 2.

LA Galaxy Academy defender Jacob Zapien made his second consecutive start and logged four possessions won, three duels won, a team-high six clearances and completed 61 of 67 passes (91.0 % pass accuracy).

Adam Saldaña completed 67 of 71 passes (94.4 % pass accuracy), five duels won and six possessions won in the match against WFC2.

In his second appearance for Los Dos this season, goalkeeper Novak Mićović made three saves in regulation and tallied two stops in the penalty-kick shootout win over Vancouver.

The average age of the LA Galaxy II starting lineup was 19.4 compared to Whitecaps FC 2's 19.8.

In two matches played against Whitecaps FC 2 this season, LA Galaxy II held an unbeaten record of 1-0-1 (6 GF, 5 GA).

In six matches played at home during the 2023 campaign, LA Galaxy II hold a 1-3-2 record (6 GF, 11 GA).

Next Game

Next up, LA Galaxy II (2-7-2, 10 points) travel to face North Texas SC (4-4-4, 16 points) at Choctaw Stadium on Sunday, June 4. The June 4 match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season

LA Galaxy II (2-7-2, 10pts) vs. Whitecaps FC II (6-3-2, 21 points)

Sunday, May 28, 2023 - Dignity Health Sports Park's Track & Field Stadium (Los Angeles)

Goals by Half 1 2 F (PKs)

LA Galaxy II 1 1 2 (4)

Whitecaps FC II 1 1 2 (2)

Scoring Summary:

LA: Bibout (Alcalá), 27

VAN: Ndakala, 34

LA: Bibout, 51

VAN: Johnston, 52

Penalty-Kick Shootout Summary

1 VAN: Auguillar - Goal

1 LA: A. González - Goal

2 VAN: Habibullah - Saved

2 LA: Téllez - Goal

3 VAN: Ngando - Goal

3 LA: Calderón - Goal

4 VAN: Fry - Saved

4 LA: Bibout - Goal

Misconduct Summary:

LA: Saldaña (caution), 37

LA: González (caution), 71

LA: Picazo (caution), 84

Lineups:

LA: : GK Novak Mićović; D Owen Bizzaro (Juan Calderón, 60), D Ascel Essengue, D Jacob Zapien, D Elijah Amadin (Matteo Carbone, 45); M Adrián González, M Adam Saldaña ©, M Alex Alcalá, M Axel Picazo (Brendan Bell, 89), M Sergio Villalpando (Brandon Téllez, 60), F Aaron Bibout

Substitutes Not Used: GK Simon Jillson; M Nicholas Dunbar, M Miguel Gonzalez, M Luis Medina, M Diego Rodriguez

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Axel Picazo, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Aaron Bibout, Axel Picazo, 2); FOULS: 12 (Axel Picazo); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 3

VAN: GK Max Anchor; D Mihail Gherasimencov, D Joshue Ndakala, D Simone Masi, D Matteo Campagna (Elage, 65); M Malcolm Johnson (Giovanni Aguillar, 76), M Joe Hanson, M Christian Greco-Taylor; F Antoine Coupland (Jean-Claude Ngando, 65), F Gloire Amanda (Kamron Habibullah, 76)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Cohen Park;, M Amoni Thomas; F Sydney Wathutu

TOTAL SHOTS: 12; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 2

Referee: Matthew Thompson

Assistant Referees: Karsten Gillwald, Loren Barnett

Fourth Official: Adam Zarrin

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 65 degrees

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

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