LA Galaxy II beat Tacoma Defiance 3-0 at William Rolland Stadium in the MLS Next Pro group stage on Monday. The hosts moved clear at the top with a third consecutive victory, while the visitors' losing streak extended to three matches.
There was tension early on — a yellow card for A. Lopez at fourteen minutes, then V. Garcia booked twenty minutes in. By then it was clear this one would be decided in the second half, and here's the thing about these group games: you can't afford to lose your edge.
The breakthrough came at fifty-six when J. Placias found the net, followed by D. Ittycheria's goal at sixty-one. The scoreline stretched to 3-0 at eighty through E. Preston, and to be fair, Tacoma had no answer for the movement in midfield.
We had called for the home side earlier, 58 per cent confidence on the paper, and it came good. Not the most convincing performance, but three points are three points.
Tacoma brought on seven players across the final twenty minutes — Sailor, Jauregui, Brown, Garcia, Arnold, Djieze, Gaffney, Dalgado — but the damage was done. Galaxy made four changes of their own, keeping fresh legs in.
Twenty-seven games played for both sides now. Galaxy sit second with fifty-three points, undefeated in draws, while Tacoma remain fourth on thirty-nine, nine points adrift. The gap has opened up.