CARSON, California – The LA Galaxy got its 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) campaign off to a bright start with a 5-1 win over visiting Central FC on Thursday at the StubHub Center.
Five players scored for the host in Group D encounter, including Mexico international Giovani dos Santos in his club debut. Alan Gordon, Raul Mendiola, Gyasi Zardes and Ignacio Maganto also found the back of the net.
Ataullah Guerra converted a penalty kick for tournament debutant Central, which was playing its first game since winning the Caribbean club championship in May.
The evening got off to a wild start as each team struck in the opening six minutes.
Gordon got things going in the fourth minute, heading home at the far post off Zardes’ cross from the right side of the box.
Only two minutes later, Central equalized on Guerra's kick from the spot after referee Christopher Reid ruled that Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe fouled Willis Plaza in the box.
The current MLS champion regained the lead for good in the 32nd minute as Mika Vayrynen sent a lead pass to an onrushing Mendiola, who remained onside with Gordon to create a two-man break. Mendiola rounded goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams on the right side and tapped the ball into an empty net for a 2-1 advantage.
LA suffered a loss, however, when Williams crashed into Mendiola just outside the penalty area. The goalkeeper received a yellow card, while Mendiola was taken off on a stretcher and was replaced by Sebastian Lletget in the 40th minute.
The host extended its lead to 3-1 in the 55th minute when defender Keion Goodridge took down Gordon in the box. Zardes powered his penalty into the upper right corner past Williams for his first career SCCL goal.
After dos Santos came on for Gordon in the 57th minute, he gave the Galaxy faithful more reason to celebrate in the 76th minute, slipping Rafael Garcia's left-wing feed into the far right corner for a 4-1 bulge.
Dos Santos turned playmaker in the 84th minute, setting up Maganto just outside the box and paving the way for the 23-year-old’s first SCCL tally.
The Galaxy next meets Comunicaciones on August 18, while Central plays at the Guatemalan side nine days later.
Results
LA Galaxy 5 v Central FC 1
Gordon 4 Guerra 6-Pen
Mendiola 42
Zardes 56-Pen
Dos Santos 76
Maganto 84
Teams
LA Galaxy: - 12.Brian Rowe; 33.Dan Gargan, 27.Dave Romney, 21.Tommy Meyer, 25.Rafael Garcia; 15.Ignacio Maganto, 3.Mika Vayrynen, 34.Kenney Walker, 40.Raul Mendiola (17.Sebastian Lletget 39th); 11.Gyasi Zardes (20.AJ De La Garza 80th), 9.Alan Gordon (10.Giovani Dos Santos 56th).
Unused substitutes: - 31.Andrew Wolverton (GK), 4.Omar Gonzales, 14.Robbie Rogers, 19.Juninho.
Coach: - Bruce Arena.
Central FC: - 21.Jan-Michael Williams (capt) (Yellow 37); 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 12.Jamal Jack, 5.Akeem Benjamin, 3.Keion Goodridge; 7.Jason Marcano (19.Nathaniel Garcia 60th), 2.Elton John, 8.Sean De Silva, 11.Darren Mitchell (24.Kevon Villaroel 69th); 45.Ataulla Guerra; 33.Willis Plaza (6.Kerry Baptiste 73rd).
Unused substitutes: - 30.Akel Clarke (GK), 14.Nicholas Dillon, 17.Marcelle Francois,
Coach: - Ross Russell.
Referee: Christopher Reid (Belize).
Video: - LA Galaxy vs Central FC Highlights
LA Galaxy reserves down Central FC; Giovani scores on debut.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).
LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena felt he did not need star players Steven Gerrard or Robbie Keane to handle Trinidad and Tobago Pro League outfit, Central FC. And he was right.
So, with Gerrard looking on from the stands, a largely second-string Galaxy outfit romped to a 5-1 win over the “Couva Sharks” in CONCACAF Champions League action at the Stubhub Centre in Los Angeles.
There was a touch of stardust, though, as Mexico star and former Barcelona attacker, Giovani Dos Santos, came off the bench to score on his debut for the Major League Soccer (MLS) team.
It was the Sharks’ first Champions League appearance and probably not quite what they hoped for from the glamour tie.
No LA Galaxy representative met the visitors at the airport—which would have been a tricky proposition anyway as Central got to Los Angeles in dribs and drabs—while the Pro League team was not allowed to train at the match venue at game time on the eve of the clash, as is customary.
And there was further evidence of the scant courtesy towards the guests at kick off as Arena, a former United States head coach, sent out a squad with only two regular first team players, Alan Gordon and Gyasi Zardes.
Yet, even at half strength, Galaxy was still too much for a Central squad that was playing its first game of the season under a debutante coach, Ross Russell.
Spanish midfielder Ignacio Maganto should have put Galaxy ahead after just two minutes but wasted a free header off a left side cross. The Central defence was breached again in the fourth minute and, this time, Gordon headed home at the far post after a Zardes cross.
Remarkably, Central managed an equaliser, just two minutes later, although it owed much to a very generous call from Belize referee Christopher Reid.
Central striker Willis Plaza chased a pass into the opposing penalty area and Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe rushed across to get both hands on the ball. Reid pointed to the penalty spot, to the disgust of the hosts, and Ataulla Guerra stroked home an equaliser.
Central might have gone one better in the 18th minute as Plaza wriggled past two opponents but hit his left footer into the side netting from just outside the penalty box.
In truth, the Central backline never offered the stability necessary to put real pressure on the home team and it was only a matter of time before Galaxy restored their advantage.
Raul Mendiola, who was making his first start of the season, got their second goal in the 42nd minute as he ran on to a ball over the top and rounded Central custodian Jan-Michael Williams to tap home.
Mendiola did not like his next meeting with Williams as much as the “Soca Warriors” goalkeeper smashed the tiny Mexican out of his shoes while chasing a loose ball. The groggy Galaxy winger was immediately substituted in the 36th minute.
It did not stop Galaxy’s momentum though as Zardes extended their lead in the 55th minute off another debatable penalty—Keion Goodridge was harshly penalised after a bump on Gordon in the area.
Santos replaced Gordon in the 56th minute and that’s when the Sharks were really in trouble as the crowd responded emphatically and Galaxy went up a level.
The gifted Mexican opened his Galaxy account in the 76th minute as he diverted a low cross past Williams at his far post. And Maganto closed off the score summary with a tidy finish in the 84th minute after an exchange of passes.
Worse, Central full back Kaydion Gabriel was stretchered off the field in stoppage time in obvious discomfort.
It completed another miserable week for the Pro League at CONCACAF level as, on Tuesday, DIRECTV W Connection were whipped 4-0 away to Santos Laguna.
(Teams)
LA Galaxy (4-4-2): 12.Brian Rowe (GK); 33.Dan Gargan, 27.Dave Romney, 21.Tommy Meyer, 25.Rafael Garcia; 15.Ignacio Maganto, 3.Mika Vayrynen, 34.Kenney Walker, 40.Raul Mendiola (17.Sebastian Lletget 39); 11.Gyasi Zardes (20.AJ De La Garza 80), 9.Alan Gordon (10.Giovani Dos Santos 56).
Unused substitutes: 31.Andrew Wolverton (GK), 4.Omar Gonzales, 14.Robbie Rogers, 19.Juninho.
Coach: Bruce Arena
Central FC (4-4-1-1): 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK) (captain); 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 12.Jamal Jack, 5.Akeem Benjamin, 3.Keion Goodridge; 7.Jason Marcano (19.Nathaniel Garcia 60), 2.Elton John, 8.Sean De Silva, 11.Darren Mitchell (24.Kevon Villaroel 69); 45.Ataulla Guerra; 33.Willis Plaza (6.Kerry Baptiste 73).
Unused substitutes: 30.Akel Clarke (GK), 14.Nicholas Dillon, 17.Marcelle Francois,
Coach: Ross Russell
Referee: Christopher Reid (Belize)
RELATED NEWS
Central off to face Galaxy minus Oliver, Ettienne and Joseph.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).
The Central FC squad boarded a flight to Los Angeles this evening where the “Couva Sharks” will make their CONCACAF Champions League debut on Thursday night against MLS team, LA Galaxy.
Details regarding which players are available to Central coach Ross Russell are sketchy though.
Wired868 was informed that new acquisitions Marcus Joseph and Andre Ettienne might not have been processed to play and they remained in Trinidad alongside veteran playmaker Marvin Oliver who did not get a visa.
However, no one at Central could confirm their squad details. Former operations director Kevin Harrison had his duties cut and now works as “advisor to the board” while media officer Amiel Mutilal was not kept on.
Harrison said his new job specs were provided by Central chairman and SIS director Daren Mohamdally and were meant to give him and former club chairman, Brent Sancho, more time to prepare for the September 7 general elections.
Sancho is the current Sport Minister and UNC candidate for Toco/Sangre while Harrison, an England native, is employed as his advisor. Mutilal also worked for the Sport Ministry during the recently concluded Women’s Premier League (WPL) competition.
“I am disappointed not to be more involved in the day to day (affairs) at Central FC,” Harrison told Wired868. “I feel there is a lot more that I could be doing to assist the club… (But) decisions were made after Brent’s appointment and my own at the Ministry of Sport that people were needed there 24/7.”
Central appointed Derek Khan as media manager but he has not hit the ground running. It meant that the Sharks began their 2015/16 season quietly.
Russell, a former two-time Pro League champion coach with Defence Force, joined Central after a short stint with the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Women’s Team at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
However, even as the media reported that Russell had been installed, another Central director was understood to have continued canvassing potential candidates. It was symptomatic of the club’s slightly bewildering pre-season.
Similarly, despite news that Joseph and Ettienne swapped Point Fortin Civic for Central, Wired868 understands neither player travelled to Los Angeles.
Oliver, who had prior legal issues in the United States, and National Under-23 goalkeeper Javon Sample were the only players known to have been denied visas.
Former team captain Leston Paul is understood to be returning from a football trial in Europe at present alongside 21-year-old forward Dwight Quintero and midfielder Jean-Luc Rochford, who all represented Central last season.
It is uncertain whether they will link up with Russell for the new Pro League season, which is expected to kick off in September.
Veteran attacker Kerry Baptiste is the sole new signing with the Sharks in the United States. Baptiste spent his last two seasons with San Juan Jabloteh and previously played for North East Stars, T&TEC and Joe Public.
Otherwise, Central’s Champions League campaign will be spearheaded by the Trinidad and Tobago 2015 Gold Cup trio of Jan-Michael Williams, Ataulla Guerra and Willis Plaza alongside returning players like new captain Sean De Silva, winger Darren “Chucky” Mitchell, veteran attacker Jason Marcano, utility player Jamal Jack, defenders Kaydion “Drogba” Gabriel, Akeem “Battery” Benjamin and Elton John and National Under-23 midfielder Nathaniel Garcia.
The other Central FC players believed to be in Los Angeles are: Akil Clarke, Marcelle Francois, Keion Goodridge, Kevon Villaroel, Elijah Manners, Triq Nicholas and Nicholas Dillon.