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LA Galaxy II are currently dealing with a coronavirus outbreak, after 11 players reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 last week. After a game last Wednesday was postponed due to the outbreak, the team’s next two games have also been postponed.
Los Dos’ game Friday against Orange County SC in Irvine was postponed, the Galaxy organization announced Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday the USL announced the following game, Aug. 12 against Phoenix Rising FC at Dignity Health Sports Park, has been rescheduled by a week, now scheduled to take place Aug. 19.
So that makes three postponed games in a row for Los Dos. While it’s totally understandable for health and safety reasons, the regular season is supposed to be done Oct. 3. It looks like right now, there are three slots where games can be rescheduled to fit in a short rest window, with games in those windows coming about a week apart. Otherwise, all the rest of the games are already on short rest.
The next question, of course, is whether it’s safe to play on short rest every single week for about six weeks straight. Los Dos have had a pretty set squad of 18 player so far this season, but they could always draw upon LA Galaxy first-team players or academy players to help fill out the ranks, although the MLS squad may themselves play a bunch of games in a short amount of time, too, we’ll see.
And obviously, there’s the ongoing coronavirus question. Since immunity to the virus does not appear to last very long, unfortunately the Galaxy II outbreak may not lead to herd immunity. If they or other teams they face have further positive tests, will that wreck the schedule? Will anyone face anything more than the inconvenience of having to quarantine and wait?
As always, best wishes to those who have tested positive, and hopefully everyone recovers fully and safely. We’ll keep you posted if there are additional updates to this story or Los Dos’ schedule ahead of their next game in two weeks.
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