PASADENA, Calif. – The LA Galaxy didn't give Barcelona much of a game through most of Tuesday night's International Champions Cup exhibition, not until Bruce Arena brought on a younger group at halftime and they, after a bit, found their footing.
It didn't mean much, in terms of the result – Barca got goals from Luis Suarez in the 45th minute and Sergi Roberto in the 56th en route to a 2-1 triumph that wasn't nearly so close – but the experience in testing themselves against the world's finest club, and finding a little success here and there, could bode well for what's to come.
That's the Galaxy's hope.
They gave one teen, three others 21 or younger, a rookie and two reserves a chance to show what they could do against the European champion, and they weren't disappointed.
Reserve defender Tommy Meyer scored a stoppage-time goal to halve the deficit, Galaxy II attacker Ariel Lassiter had two good looks at goal, and LA showed a lot more life in the second half than they did with their stars, including Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard, over the first 45 minutes.
“They did well. I think it's a fabulous experience for them,” Arena said during his postgame news conference at the Rose Bowl. “Some of those kids are 19 years old and played against an outstanding club.
“I know Barcelona went with some young players [in the second half], as well, but for our guys, I don't think Keane and Gerrard need these games as much as the young kids, for the experience. You can tell them a lot of things, but to actually step on the field and experience it against quality players, they don't fully comprehend [until they do that]. Tonight for our young players, this was an invaluable experience.”
The Galaxy didn't have an actual 19-year-old out there, but Bradford Jamieson IV is 18, Lassiter is 20 and Mendiola only just turned 21, and they had a blast while picking up some big lessons.
“I think they see how fast the game is.,” said veteran defender A.J. DeLaGarza, one of LA's bright spots in a difficult first half. “The thought process. You're looking at a play, and the ball's actually over here because they're moving it so quick. That even happened to me once or twice. It's just the speed of thought that those guys have is, obviously, world-class.”
It was beyond them in many ways, but they found space to counter and came close twice through Lassiter – the son of former MLS/US national team striker Roy Lassiter – and again with Mendiola before Meyer nodded home a Mika Väyrynen corner kick in the 91st minute.
“I'm really speechless,” said Lassiter, who made his first-team debut. “To be able to play with great professional athletes, people that I watch on TV all the time, that I look up to all the time, and to be able to get out there and play against them was just an honor and a blessing. ...
“Just being able to see where I want to be in the future. Being able to see myself in their shoes – being able to play in Spain and [in the UEFA] Champions League and stuff like that – it's just an eye-opening experience and something that makes me want to work even harder.”
Galaxy II defenders Daniel Steres and Dave Romney, who saw action in LA's ICC win 10 days earlier against Mexico's Club América, also was on the field for the second half, and so was rookie goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton, who debuted against América.
“We just go out there and have fun,” said Mendiola, who was the only Galaxy player to get more than a full half, lasting 64 minutes. “Coach told us to play hard and don't back down from anything. That's the mentality we had going into the second half.”
Arena said some were in “a little bit” over their heads, but they saw things they'd likely never seen before, certainly not from such a vantage point. Most of the Galaxy players – perhaps everyone except Keane and Gerrard – can benefit from the experience.
“When they see the spacing Barcelona has in possession, it's incredible,” Arena said. “If you think about sticking Neymar in that lineup and Messi, with that kind of spacing, they cut teams apart. And the other part that's outstanding for Barcelona is when they lose the ball, how they pressure.
“I think in the first half, they were outstanding in not letting us get any kind of rhythm and make passes. They really got after the ball. They were outstanding in that area.”
