CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy II jumped out to an early lead and then pulled away for a 5-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Sunday night, handing the visitors just their third loss of the season as Preston Judd scored twice and both Jorge Hernandez and Cameron Dunbar had a goal and assist apiece to move the hosts closer to a third consecutive trip to the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs.

The Galaxy II took the lead in just the seventh minute as after his initial delivery of a free kick from the right was blocked away, Hernandez regained possession and chipped a cross to the back post where Carlos Harvey rose highest to head back into the right corner of the net. Ten minutes later the hosts doubled their lead on their second shot of the game when Josh Drack found Judd just inside the El Paso half in the left channel, allowing the forward to turn into space and drive forward centrally before arrowing a shot from almost 30 yards out just inside the bottom-left corner of the net.

El Paso’s first good look at goal came in the 20th minute as Ricardo Zacarias fed Leandro Carrijo in the right side of the penalty area for a low shot that was saved by Los Dos’ Justin vom Steeg, but on the half-hour mark the hosts added their third as Judd struck again. Hernandez began the opportunity as he moved in from the right flank and curled a shot to the far post from the top-right corner of the penalty area that Locomotive FC goalkeeper Logan Ketterer parried. Drack followed up as he crashed in from the left, only for his shot to get partially blocked, but the ball bounced kindly for Judd to finish from inside the six-yard area.

Dunbar almost got into the act for Los Dos in the 38th minute with a shot from 20 yards that flashed just over the crossbar, while El Paso’s young standout forced another save from Vom Steeg moments later as he wove to his right inside the penalty area for a low shot from 14 yards under pressure from Galaxy II defender Jalen Neal.

El Paso tried to apply pressure early in the second half to get back into the game, but Los Dos held the visitors at bay before Dunbar had another chance just before the hour-mark with a curling shot from the top-right edge of the penalty area that went wide of the left post. The Galaxy II added a fourth with 21 minutes to go, however, as Hernandez cut in from the right side in a similar fashion to the opening half but this time threaded his finish inside the far corner of the net.

Locomotive FC’s Josue Aaron Gomez threatened to pull a goal back with 11 minutes to go with a powerful shot from the left edge of the penalty area that was parried away by Vom Steeg, but Los Dos added a fifth to put a bow on the performance as Dunbar cut into the right side of the penalty area and sent a low shot to the far post to wrap up an emphatic victory for the hosts.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jorge Hernandez, LA Galaxy II – Hernandez recorded a goal and assist while finishing with three shots and four key passes and completed 20 of 24 passes overall to play a central role in Los Dos’ victory.

Scoring Summary
LA – Carlos Harvey (Jorge Hernandez) 7’
LA – Preston Judd (Josh Drack) 17’
LA – Preston Judd 30’
LA – Jorge Hernandez (Cameron Dunbar) 69’
LA – Cameron Dunbar (Josh Drack) 90+3’

Full Box Score