LA Galaxy lose to Pumas UNAM, Preseason minute tracker

The LA Galaxy lost 2-1 in a closed door scrimmage with Pumas this afternoon in Mexico City. With the LA Galaxy at altitude in the heat, Bruce Arena chose not to give any player extended minutes. As a result, more significant than anything is who played and where.

Robbie Keane continues his recovery, and the knock on Robbie Rogers is known; but there are still other players whose absence remains a bit of a mystery. Todd Dunivant, Tommy Meyer, and now Juninho did not participate this afternoon and the reason remains unknown at least to this blogger.

Kyle Venter did score for LA, showing set piece skill. Kofi Opare was swapped late with Leonardo, with the sophomore player getting the start with the first team.

With Juninho out, our current projected First Kick starting lineup is:

Penedo; DeLaGarza/Gargan, Leonardo, Opare, Cochrane; Ishizaki, Husidic, Sarvas, Donovan/Gaul; Samuel, Friend

Again, that is nothing more than who is getting the most minutes at each position. Common sense says A.J. DeLaGarza and Landon Donovan will win those "battles" and that Omar Gonzalez will start with either Leonardo or Kofi Opare. Robbie Keane should be good to go by First Kick. This is just a pre-season exercise.

It is time to start asking if Todd Dunivant is in that category of ready by First Kick. That may be the most significant question of the pre-season.