CARSON, Calif. – Cameron Dunbar had a pair of goals and Preston Judd a pair of assists as the LA Galaxy II handed Louisville City FC its first loss of the 2022 USL Championship season with a 4-3 victory at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday night.
LouCity jumped out to the lead after just 61 seconds as Jorge Gonzalez turned his defender inside the penalty area and had a shot parried by Los Dos goalkeeper Richard Sanchez which allowed Ray Serrano to turn home the rebound. The Galaxy II replied in the 19th minute, however, as Judd was played into space on the left side and created space for a low cross through the top of the six-yard area that found Dunbar at the far post to put away a close-range finish.
The visitors twice threatened to regain the lead before the halftime break as first the ball came to Gonzalez in the left side of the penalty area after an attack down the right for a clear look that was turned wide by Sanchez. Off the ensuing corner kick, Paolo DelPiccolo’s header went wide of the right post off a delivery by Niall McCabe as the game went to the break even, but six minutes into the second half McCabe put LouCity back ahead as his free kick from the top of the penalty area to the left of center beat Sanchez to the bottom-right corner of the net.
The Galaxy II almost responded five minutes later as Taylor Davila played in Judd over the top only for the forward to lift his finish past advancing LouCity goalkeeper Parker Siegfried and wide of the right post. Dunbar tied the game on the hour-mark, however, as Judd beat the offside trap and then laid a pass to his right after drawing Siegfried, allowing Dunbar to finish into an open net. Los Dos were then awarded a penalty kick two minutes later as Louisville’s Ian Soler was whistled for a handball, and Davila converted from the spot with a shot to the right corner.
McCabe threatened again from a free kick for LouCity midway through the second half only this time to be denied by Sanchez, and with 14 minutes to go the Galaxy II added their fourth of the night as Adrian Gonzalez was played into space on the right and broke forward before playing a pass across the penalty area for Michael Salazar to finish from close range. Louisville made it a one-goal game two minutes later, though, as Oscar Jimenez centered for Wilson Harris to volley home from close range for his sixth goal in the league and eighth in all competitions this season in the 78th minute. Despite late pressure from the visitors, however, the Galaxy II held on to move back into the playoff positions in the Western Conference to end the night.
USLChampionship.com Player of the Match
Cameron Dunbar, LA Galaxy II – Dunbar recorded a pair of goals on three shots overall while completing 7 of 8 passes and winning 4 of 8 duels to help lead the hosts to victory.
Scoring Summary
LOU – Ray Serrano 2’
LA – Cameron Dunbar (Preston Judd) 19’
LOU – Niall McCabe 51’
LA – Cameron Dunbar (Preston Judd) 60’
LA – Taylor Davila (Penalty Kick) 63’
LA – Michael Salazar (Adrian Gonzalez) 76’
LOU – Wilson Harris (Oscar Jimenez) 78’