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In front of a festive sold out atmosphere of 93,226 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the LA Galaxy fell to FC Barcelona 2-1 in the International Champions Cup.
#LAGalaxy XI: Rowe; Gargan, DLG, Leonardo, Dunivant; Juninho, Walker; Maganto, Gerrard, Husidic; Keane #LAvFCB pic.twitter.com/AuqCKRgp9b
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 22, 2015
The game's about to start! Barça begin with: Masip, Rakitic, Sergio, Pedro, Suárez, Rafinha, Bartra, Douglas, S. Roberto, Adriano & Mathieu
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 22, 2015
(FCB were without the services of Lionel Messi and Neymar)
Minutes into the match, Barca defender Marc Bartra headed just wide on a corner kick.
Barcelona dominated the early going, with the Galaxy happy to sit back and allow the Champions League winners to execute their methodical possession game. Once the Galaxy withstood the initial pressure from Barca however, LA improved. Though the Galaxy couldn't muster a lot of offense, they were excellent at keeping their defensive shape and limiting Barca to half chances.
In the 35th minute following a prolonged spell of possession in the Galaxy area, Suarez released a low curving shot that required goalkeeper Brian Rowe to make a smart fingertip save. However, just when LA thought they had made it to halftime without conceding, Luis Suarez collected an over-the-shoulder pass inside the box to pull a finish past Rowe.
As you might expect, the Galaxy switched things up at halftime.
#LAGalaxy second-half XI: Wolverton; Rogers, Meyer, Steres, Romney; Lassiter, Garcia, Vayrynen, Mendiola; Buddle, Jamieson IV #LAvFCB
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 22, 2015
The game was less hectic in the second half as Barca struggled with pre-match fitness. however, the Catalan side were able to claim a second goal in the 56th minute when Sergio Roberto rifled home a loose ball in the Galaxy area.
On the positive side for the Galaxy? Similar to the Club America friendly, it was encouraging to witness a lineup consisting of Galaxy academy kids hold their own against a world-class opponent. In the 74th minute, Raul Mendiola found Ariel Lassiter streaking down the center of the park, but his left footed attempt was just wide as the LA began to carve out half-chances.
The Galaxy were rewarded in stoppage time when Tommy Meyer beat two Barca defenders to nod home a near post corner kick and give LA fans a worthy consolation prize.
Though in the end the Galaxy earned a respectable result, unfortunately Todd Dunivant and Baggio Husidic limped off the field with injury concerns.