Owain Evans

OPPONENT WATCH: LA Galaxy II

Appiah

Image: Emmanuel Appiah, Los Dos’ sole goalscorer to date, in action in 2016 for Swope Park Rangers v Orange County (Copyright: Nick Smith)

  • LA Galaxy II have experienced a slow start to the season.  Defeats away to Switchbacks and neighbors Orange County have topped and tailed two draws away to Fresno (1-1) and home to San Antonio (0-0).
  • Results were equally as disappointing for Los Dos last season.  The club finished 13th above Whitecaps 2 and Timbers 2 in the 2017 Western Conference, with 29 points from 32 games (8W, 5D, 19L).
  • Rising emerged victorious from all 3 encounters against Los Dos in 2017.  Luke Rooney scored a brace in a 2-1 home victory in April – Rising’s first victory of the season.  Eric Avila and a Jason Johnson penalty earned Rising a similar result at the StubHub Center in May.  A stunning free kick by Didier Drogba and a goal from Alessandro Riggi then gave Rising a 2-0 win in California last August.
  • Indiscipline has been a key feature of Los Dos in 2018.  The club has amassed 8 yellow cards and 3 red cards in their first 4 USL games, and played the last 36 minutes away to Orange County with only 9 men.  Engola and Mendez are now suspended from the Rising game tonight.
  • Ryo Fujii, Alejandro Covarrubias, Tyler Turner, Robert Castellanos, and Josh Tunley all departed Los Dos at the end of 2017.  Their places in the 2018 roster have been taken by forward Frank Lopez; midfielders Julian Büscher, Geoffrey Acheampong and Emmanuel Appiah; defenders John Requejo and Nate Schultz; and goalkeeper Wade Hamilton.
  • Hamilton previously spent two seasons with Timbers 2.
  • Lopez is a graduate of the FC Cienfuegos (Cuba) Academy, and has featured extensively at U15, U17, U20, and U23 levels for the Cuban National Team.
  • California-born Requejo spent the previous three seasons at Club Tijuana, including a loan spell at Sinaloa (Mexico).
  • Büscher made 27 appearances in the MLS for D.C. United in 2016 and 2017, scoring 1 goal and contributing 4 assists.
  • Emmanuel Appiah previously played for Swope Park (8 regular and 4 post-season games in 2016), and Saint Louis FC (10 appearances and 1 goal in 2017).  The Ghanian is Los Dos’ only goalscorer to date in 2018.
  • Four of the 6 goals conceded by Los Dos this season have been scored in the second half.
  • The club doubled the capacity of their USL stadium last week, installing bleachers on the east side to accommodate an additional 2,500 supporters.

From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to win 2-0.