Shortly before the hour mark of LA’s three goal win over Orange County FC in U.S. Open Cup fourth round play, Emmanuel Boateng drew a free kick at the left corner of the 18-yard box. The two Alvarez attackers stepped to the ball, one an Argentine playmaker, the other a highly rated youth prospect eligible to play for the U.S. and Mexico.
It would be Favio Alvarez playing the role of the dummy, paving the way for the 16-year old to step up and smash an effort with just the right amount of pace and swerve past the sprawling keeper to put the LA Galaxy ahead. It was Efrain’s first goal in a Galaxy uniform.
Seven minutes later Alvarez doubled his goal tally. Favio Alvarez was first to a hospital ball out of the back and raced in on the breakaway, faking David Preys into committing in one direction before unselfishly laying the ball off for Efrain as he tapped into an empty net.