Los Angeles Blues News Release -- www.labluesprosoccer.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
CARSON, Calif. – The Los Angeles Blues defeated the CD Chivas USA reserves 1-0 on Monday, courtesy of a 76th minute header by Matt Fondy. The striker’s second game-winner in three days put the icing on a strong team performance against an opponent that featured several potential first-team starters, including Venezuelan international Alejandro Moreno and former Sporting Kansas City star Ryan Smith.
Among the other notable Chivas players were 2011 first-team regulars David Lopes and Jorge Villafaña, exciting Ecuadorian prospect Miller Bolaños as well as Casey Townsend, who played in Sunday’s MLS match against the Houston Dynamo.
As in Saturday’s scrimmage with the Los Angeles Galaxy U-20s, the Blues defended well throughout the 90 minutes. The aspect that was most improved from two days ago was the team’s finishing, with Fondy converting one of only a handful of chances in the match, while the team had failed to score on numerous promising occasions against the Galaxy.
Both the Goats and the visitors from Fullerton were focused on their defensive shape in the first half of Monday’s match, with Blues netminder José Miranda comfortably stopping two long-range efforts and his teammate Allan Russell testing Tim Melia from distance at the other hand. The day’s first attempt from inside the area came in the 38th minute, Smith’s left-footed shot always going wide of Miranda’s goal.
The opening chance of the second half went to the Blues, midfielder Israel Sesay’s 53rd-minute attempt forcing Melia to touch the ball around the post. The home side responded only three minutes later. Nigerian trialist John Owoeri streaked into the area on the right and released a dangerous drive that took a deflection off a defender and whizzed just wide of the far post.
Chivas would go on to create nearly identical chances on either side of the day’s only goal. First Villafaña advanced to the byline in the 71st minute to send a dangerous pass across the goalmouth that failed to find a teammate’s foot, then striker Townsend did the same 15 minutes later, nearly managing to pick out Owoeri in the center.
Fondy’s big moment came in the 76th minute following a beautiful chip down the left flank by trialist Ricardo Balderas and a pinpoint-accurate cross to the 22-year-old’s forehead. Crashing the box, Fondy found himself positioned perfectly in between two defenders and nodded the ball down and inside the post to leave Melia without a chance.
The visitors’ task of maintaining the lead was made more difficult by trialist Mike Lopez receiving a second yellow card for dissent. However, through some spirited defending, they were able to hold on to a confidence-boosting victory and a second consecutive shutout.
The Blues look to continue improving when they take on Cal State Fullerton in another preseason tuneup at Titan Stadium in Fullerton this coming Friday, March 16, at 2 p.m. PT.