• LA Galaxy II (0W, 3D, 4L) currently sit at the bottom of the USL Western Conference, 9 points behind and 12 places below Rising.  They are still looking for their first win of the 2018 season, and have earned a solitary point in 4 games on the road.
• The most recent encounter between the two teams took place just over 3 weeks ago, when a Didier Drogba 64^th minute strike enabled Rising to return home from Carson with all three points.
• Since that game, Los Dos have lost 1-0 away to Saint Louis, and drew 1-1 at home to New York Red Bulls II.
• Californian 17 year-old forward Ulysses Llanez Jr. had opened the scoring for the home side against the Red Bulls – his first goal in 7 appearances since making his debut for Los Dos against Rising as an 88^th minute substitute in August 2017.
• Los Dos’ other goal this season has been scored by former Swope and Saint Louis midfielder Emmanuel Appiah.
• Both of Los Dos’ goals this season have been scored in the first half.
• Ariel Lassiter leads the shooting chart for Los Dos with 8 shots in 3 appearances, 3 of which were on target.  The son of former U.S. international Roy Lassiter, Ariel was born in Costa Rica during his father’s time at L.D. Alajuelense.  Lassiter originally received 2 caps for the U.S. U23 side in 2015, but switched international allegiance to Costa Rica, and scored twice in 5 appearances for Los Ticos’ U23s in the 2015 Toulon Tournament.
• Ethan Zubak, Julian Buescher and John Requejo have appeared in all 7 Los Dos games this season.
• Defender Requejo signed from Club Tijuana (Mexico) during the close season.
• Midfielder Julian Buescher made 27 regular season and 1 post-season appearances for D.C. United in the MLS in 2016 and 2017, scoring 1 goal and contributing 4 assists.  The German has collected two yellow cards so far this season for Los Dos.
• Forward Ethan Zubak has played for Los Dos since 2015, scoring 6 goals in 59 appearances.  Zubak has also represented the U.S. at U19 level.

 

• Los Dos are stronger at the back than their lowly position suggests.  They have conceded more than one goal in just two games this season.  Seven of the 9 goals conceded by Los Dos have been scored in the second half.
• Los Dos usually set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation away from home.  However, they lined up 4-2-3-1 when they earned their solitary point on the road at Fresno.
• As noted before the first encounter, indiscipline has been a key feature of Los Dos in 2018.  The club has collected 13 yellow cards and 3 red cards in 7 league games.  Alex Mendez, Jean Engola and Justin Dhillon were the recipients of the red cards, two of which were collected in a feisty “derby” away to Orange County.  With Rising’s over-zealous tackling also earning back-to-back dismissals in the last two home games, the officials could be in for a busy time tonight.

From The Ashes Prediction: 1-0 to Rising