Reserves: Rapids and Galaxy play to 2-2 draw

Danny Mwanga training with Colorado Rapids on March 7, 2013

Carson, Calif. – The LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids reserves played to a 2-2 draw Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. After an own goal put the Galaxy in an early deficit the home side responded with two first half goals from Galaxy forwards Charlie Rugg and Chandler Hoffman. Danny Mwanga’s late equalizer leveled the match cementing a 2-2 draw for the Western Conference foes.

With the draw, the Galaxy are now unbeaten in their last seven Reserve League games, going 4-0-3 in that time. They are now 4-1-4 on the season with one game remaining. The Rapids are now 4-6-2 on the season.

The visiting side got on the board in the 9th minute when Martin Rivero dribbled toward the touchline before sending in a low ball that traversed across the goal mouth only to be deflected into the back of the net by Galaxy defender Oscar Sorto.

The Galaxy responded 13 minutes later when Rafael Garcia played a one-time ball into space for Chandler Hoffman. The UCLA product tracked down the ball in the area and found Charlie Rugg cutting towards goal. Rugg struck the ball in stride and placed the ball past Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens to level the match at 1-1 after 22 minutes.

The Galaxy took the lead in the 33rd minute when Colin Clark dispossessed a Rapids defender and played a pin-point pass over the top of the defense to Laurent Courtois. The Frenchman raced behind the Rapids defense and found a charging Hoffman who buried the pass to give the Galaxy a 2-1 advantage.

In the game’s dying moments, an errant pass found the right foot of Danny Mwanga who drilled a blistering shot from the top of the box into the upper corner of the goal to level the score at 2-2 in the 88th minute.

The Galaxy reserves will be back in action on Monday, Oct. 7 when they take on Chivas USA at StubHub Center at 7:00 p.m. The Rapids reserves take on FC Dallas at home on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013
StubHub Center – University Field #1 – Carson, Calif.

Scoring Summary:
COL – own goal (Oscar Sorto) 9’
LA – Charlie Rugg (Chandler Hoffman) 22’
LA – Chandler Hoffman (Laurent Courtois, Colin Clark) 33’
COL – Danny Mwanga (unassisted) 88’

Misconduct Summary:
LA – Colin Clark (Yellow Card) 18’
COL – Anthony Wallace (Yellow Card) 24’
LA – Hector Jimenez (Yellow Card) 41’

LA Galaxy lineup: Brian Perk; Oscar Sorto (Jeffery Quizada^, 76’), Tommy Meyer, Greg Cochrane, Colin Clark (Malcolm Jones^, 68’); Laurent Courtois, Hector Jimenez, Rafael Garcia ©, Raul Mendiola^; Charlie Rugg (Bradford Jamieson^, 50’), Chandler Hoffman

Subs Not Used: Cesar Jerez^, Jeffery Quizada^, Malcolm Jones^, Adenis Amaya^

^ - Galaxy Academy Players

Rapids lineup: Matt Pickens, Brian Mullan, Diego Calderon, Brenton Griffiths, Dillon Serna, Anthony Wallace (Luke Vercollone, 76’), Martin Rivero (Deshorn Brown, 58’), Jaime Castrillon, Kamani Hill, Tony Cascio, Danny Mwanga

Subs: Steward Ceus, Kortne Thompson-Ford, Enda O'Neill, Isaac Martinez

Rapids Academy
Trialist

Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Referee’s Assistants: Omar Meza, Mehmet Aksin
4th Official: Jess Yzaguirre