CARSON — There were several teenagers on the field for Ventura County FC in Thursday’s opening round of the U.S. Open Cup. The first question was how would the predominantly young group handle the opening round of a tournament.

The end result should have been more comfortable, but Coach Matt Taylor and the team, formerly known as Galaxy II, will take the 2-1 victory over Irvine Zeta II FC and advance to the second round, which will be played April 2-3. The pairings for the next round will be drawn Friday.

Thursday night’s match was played at the Dignity Health Sports Park Track and Field Stadium.

“I hope they take away positives,” Taylor said. “Created a lot of chances to score goals, didn’t give up much. … I think aside from the (first-half) PK, from inside the 18, I don’t think they had a shot. So, we managed the transition moments and managed to create a lot (of opportunities).”

Irvine Zeta II, the second team of Irvine Zeta from the NISA (National Independent Soccer Association) opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Daniel Baumgartner converted a penalty kick.

The lead didn’t last long. In the 11th minute, Tucker Lepley’s corner kick was headed toward the goal by an Irvine Zeta defender and was then hit by another before crossing the line to make it 1-1.

Then in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Sean Karani made it 2-1 for VCFC and that’s where the score remained.

“In the first half, I think we had seven really good chances to score, probably 10 in the second half,” Taylor said. “I think they’ll walk away disappointed that they didn’t score more, but in the end, it’s about winning this game and moving on to the next round and the next round is a different challenge because this is the first time we’ve been asked to carry the game with this group.

“We played college teams but they came right us, so we were able to break them down in different ways. This team sat with 10 guys, 30 yards from the goal and said try to break us down. It was a good challenge for us and now it’s a matter of finishing the plays off.”

Seven teenagers took the field for VCFC: five were 17 years old (Gabriel Arnold, Riley Dalgado, Harbor Miller, Ruben Ramos Jr. and Nicolas Scheletto). Carlos Diaz and Sergio Villalpando are 18.

The group looked to a pair of four-year college players in Lepley and Karani to help lead the attack. Lepley was the Galaxy’s third-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January.

“I’m really excited about Sean, I think he has a great tool-set, he’s come a long way already in the last couple of months,” Taylor said. “I think he’s got something that if he’s playing in an MLS game in the near future, I wouldn’t be surprised. He also has a lot he still needs to work on before an MLS coach is going to say I trust this guy to close out a game or get us a goal. … He’s on a great trajectory.

“Tucker is great. He’s always around it and he’s creative, clean, great engine and it’s a lot of positives for Tucker. You have Isaiah (Parente) and Tucker in the midfield with Gaby (Gabriel Arnold), he knows he’s going to feel secure and safe when you’ve got those two always giving you angles and you can play off of and once you get it, you can get it back. It only makes him better. It’s a good balance, young surrounded by experience.”

Edwin Cerrillo underwent a big career move when he was traded by FC Dallas to the Galaxy in August.

Cerrillo was an FC Dallas Homegrown player, making his professional debut at the age of 18 in 2019.

“Last year, I think I came in with a little bit of nervousness coming to a bigger team,” said Cerrillo, who had joined the FC Dallas Academy at 15. “The change happened so fast, I was comfortable where I was, I kind of had to get used to the change.

“I knew everybody there, from top to bottom, I’m 23 now and it feels like I’ve been in the league for awhile. Making that big move was a big deal for me, but it’s time for me to grow. It’s been good coming to L.A.”

The defensive midfielder made 11 appearances with the Galaxy last season, but returned in the preseason with a more in-tuned approach.

“Coming into this preseason, I felt like I got a new start and got a fresh shot at another year,” he said. “I think that’s been the key.”

With Gaston Brugman recovering from injury, Cerrillo has stepped up. He’s started the first four games, playing 310 minutes, heading into Saturday’s game on the road against Sporting Kansas City (5:30 p.m., Apple TV+).

Cerrillo’s contract was extended this offseason by the Galaxy for three years with two options, adding some stability.

“It gives me a sense of security, first of all,” Cerrillo said. “I’m happy that I’m here in a good environment, good team and grateful to be part of it.”

Cerrillo’s arrival came right around the time of Brugman’s injury last season. Brugman was lost for the remainder of the year following an ACL injury.

“Last year, when he arrived, we really liked his skill-set, he’s a really, very good athlete, covers ground, clean with the ball,” Vanney said. “I think he just needed to settle in to a new environment. He’d been in Dallas for a long time and now he’s at a big club, new environment and I think some of it, this year, is having that experience of last year coming into the group. But he continues to learn his craft and where to position himself in certain moments to be supportive of the center backs when we’re building and in possession, but also still being aware of where Riqui (Puig) dropping down and what spots he’s finding to try to balance. That got a little messed up in the last game.

“I think he’s (Cerrillo) really developed a feel for his teammates, his role and that understanding of what we need from within our group from that defensive midfield position, then he brings all of his attributes to the game that are very helpful, power, speed to cover in transition moments. He doesn’t have the desire, which is really important for a defensive midfielder, to want to be involved in attacks and want to be moving forward. He’s very comfortable in what his role is to sit, protect the center backs, recover balls and stop plays in transition.”

At some point, there might be a tough decision for Vanney to make regarding who starts: Cerrillo or Brugman.

“Depending on how we want to set up, Gaston right now, we’re working him getting used to playing sometimes a little higher up the field,” Vanney said. “We know we can use him at times in a lower position. Sometimes maybe we’ll play in a double pivot where the two of them will sit together. The thing is right now, we’re playing one game a week, so it is guys, if they’re in form, have been able to stay on the field, for the most part.

“We know we need to get guys going and get the rest of the group moving because we’re six weeks away from starting to play multiple games in a week where you need to have rotation. We know Gaston brings a lot of quality to our group and Eddie (Cerrillo) has brought us some nice stability … it’s a good thing to have, another midfielder and a group that has been very solid the last couple of years.”

GALAXY AT SPORTING KC

When: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas

TV: Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass)

The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) and Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) have a new collective bargaining agreement that will bring the referees back to the field this week across Major League Soccer.

A tentative agreement between the sides was reached last week and the voting ratified the deal on Monday.

“We look forward to welcoming our senior match officials back this upcoming match round. It has been a difficult time for everyone as we worked to reach an agreement,” PRO’s general manager Mark Geiger said in a statement. “This seven-year term provides enhanced pay and benefits for all officials and the stability that will support the growth of the professional game in the United States and Canada.

“On behalf of PRO, I would like to thank the PSRA negotiating team and the federal mediator for their commitment to finding a mutually agreeable conclusion to these negotiations and their hard work in finalizing the terms.

“We now move forward together with renewed positivity as PRO continues to lead the way in developing world-class match officials.”

Replacement referees had been in use by MLS so far this season. Lately, the outcry from coaches and players had been rising due to the quality.

This new deal is the longest in MLS history.

In a statement, the PSRA said it “won much-needed improvements” in negotiating.

“We thank the hundreds of officials in the U.S. and Canada who stood in solidarity with us showing their strength and professionalism. Standing strong with each other, we have been buoyed by the support of players, fans, supporters clubs and other unionized workgroups during our employer-imposed lockout.

“Together, we have won much-needed improvements while demonstrating the value of having the best referees in Major League Soccer on the pitch.”

According to ESPN, 93 of 97 eligible voters participated, voting yes for an approval rating of 77.4%.

The previous CBA expired Jan. 15. One week later, the PSRA authorized a potential strike. A month later, a tentative agreement was reached, but the union membership voted no. That led PRO to lock out the PSRA referees, leading toward replacement referees being in charge for the first weeks of the MLS season.

The Galaxy enters the sixth game of the season unbeaten and in second place in the Western Conference and second in the league in scoring with 12 goals.

After last season’s struggles, that should be cause for celebration.

One early area for concern has been defending set pieces, most notably corner kicks. Of the nine goals allowed this season, five have come on corner kicks, though one went into the record books as an own goal.

“We’ve talked about it and we think we need just a bit more urgency,” Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy said. “Just holding each other, including myself, more accountable. They’re tough ones to give up, especially late before half. How we give up the set pieces is more frustrating than giving up the goal. How we turn over the ball or don’t track back and stuff like that and then you have to defend a set piece.”

Against St. Louis City SC, the Galaxy allowed two goals – including the own goal – off corner kicks in a 3-3 draw. Last week against Sporting Kansas City, both goals came off corner kicks in a 12-minute span, sending the Galaxy into halftime trailing 2-0.

“If it’s the run of the play and they score a Golazo or a crazy goal, you take your hat off … that happens,” McCarthy said. “When it’s sometimes that’s preventable, which a lot of these things are, you have to hold yourself accountable and really dig deep and find a way together to get through it.”

The Galaxy (2-0-3) returns home Saturday to face the Seattle Sounders, a team near the bottom of the Western Conference, but one that could certainly take advantage of any defensive lapses.

“I think we’re not being aggressive enough to attack the ball. Three of the five set pieces have come off of scenarios where we lost the ball in our half of the field. We then have to crisis-defend the situation in kind of a passive state, where you’re defending under pressure, and then I feel like we’ve translated that into not very aggressive posture on the set pieces,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.

“As we said to the guys, the zone guys have to attack the ball, the marking guys have to make sure their guys don’t touch the ball. We need to be aggressors and goalkeeper needs to attack the ball. If he’s going to come for it, he needs to go for it and it just seems like our zone guys are falling backward a little bit instead of going to the ball and we lost a guy or two on the marking side of things. We have to be aggressive … we have to fix it.”

Vanney also added that he believes the team is conceding too many corners.

“If you’re going to give up 11 corners in a game, then you’re putting yourself in harm’s way,” he said. “That comes down to our collective defending inside of the run of the play and last week we were too spread out, too open, which then led to numerous moments where we’re having to defend set pieces. I think we should be defending anywhere from 2-4 (corner kicks) over the course of the game, I don’t think we should be defending 11.”

SEATTLE SOUNDERS at GALAXY

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park

TV: Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass)

As a rookie last season, Alyssa Thompson said she had a lot of learning to do.

“I learned how to be a professional,” she said. “I didn’t really know what that entailed last year and I got a lot of insight from the vets on the team, by playing in games, and just having more experience.

“I feel like I have learned a lot through that.”

Thompson, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, also graduated from Harvard-Westlake High School and was selected for the United States World Cup roster. She was also a Rookie of the Year finalist and scored four goals.

“I’ve learned how to manage my time, how to work on things after practice, going to coaches for film, keeping my body ready to play,” she said. “It’s all things that I didn’t have to think about as a high schooler, but things that are really beneficial in a professional league.

“Coming into this season, I really want to build from last year and be a better player. I want to be more clinical in the box and in finishing. I definitely want to score more, and I have really high expectations of myself. I know it’s early in the season, but I’m keeping myself to a high standard and I’ll continue to work hard and get better.”

Thompson and Angel City (0-1-1, one point) are on the road Saturday to face the Kansas City Current (2-0, six points). The game will air at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.

For her second season, Thompson is paired with younger sister Gisele, who also chose to bypass college to sign with Angel City.

“I love playing with Gisele,” Alyssa said. “When we’re in training, I always want to be on the same team as her. I don’t want to compete against her. I love being on her team and I feel so comfortable around her.

“She’s been a big part in me being more comfortable this season overall. I love having her around, she really does make me happier.”

Gisele Thompson missed last week’s draw against Orlando with an ankle sprain. She made her professional debut in the season-opening loss against Bay FC, replacing her older sister in the 82nd minute.

“I was super excited that she got her debut, she deserves it so much,” Alyssa Thompson said. “I’m so happy that she got to enter the match in front of our fans and our family.”

Alyssa Thompson missed the CONCACAF Gold Cup due to a back injury, but is looking to get back into the national team mix. She said she has had conversations with current interim coach Twila Kilgore.

“I am just going to continue to try to do my best and try to make the next rosters,” she said.”

Angel City has scored just one goal through two games and faces a Current team that has scored seven. But as coach Becki Tweed was quick to point out, the Current has allowed five goals in two games.

“Every time you step out on the field, your objective is to win. You’d be crazy to say anything else, but this league is a marathon,” Tweed said. “We know that we have a process. We know that we have a game plan and an identity, and we have to execute that.

“We feel confident that our first two performances were enough to win the match, we just didn’t execute in actually winning.”

International break upcoming

Angel City will be off next week, returning for its April 13 game on the road against the Chicago Red Stars.

As of Friday, Casey Phair (South Korea), Claire Emslie (Scotland), Amandine Henry (France) and Rocky Rodriguez (Costa Rica) will be away for national team duty.

ANGEL CITY FC AT KANSAS CITY CURRENT

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Where: CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

TV: ESPN

CARSON — Gabriel Pec’s 2024 has seen him join a new club in a new country and get married.

Saturday, the Brazilian forward opened his scoring account as a member of the Galaxy, leading the club to a wet and wild 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in front of 22,736 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I was waiting for a game like this,” Pec said. “The only thing that affected me was the cold weather. I’m glad I could score and I was happy with my performance.”

Pec joined the Galaxy (3-0-3, 12 points) from Vasco da Gama in Brazil, signing as a young Designated Player on Jan. 30.

In the fourth minute, Pec beat Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei for the game’s opening and only goal.

“(Seattle defender) Nouhou is easy to play against,” Vanney said. “I thought he (Pec) was really good. I think we saw some of his talent that we hadn’t seen in other games.”

On the field, the Galaxy slowly let Pec work his way into the group. He earned his first start last week in the 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City and he assisted on the game-winning goal. Previously, he had only seen action as a second-half substitute. He also missed a game due to his marriage.

The adjustments he’s had to make are not only on the attacking side, but on the defensive end.

“Defensively, I think he’s still working through his tendencies before he got here and finding the rhythm of what we’re asking him to do,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said Thursday. “Before he got here, he would just defend the outside back and that was his responsibility, but now we have more weakside responsibility when the ball is on the other side of the field for him to have to fulfill.

“On the attacking side, we have to play better, to help him too. Some of this is just him going through the growing pains of not having a preseason, not having as much time with the group.”

Pec’s fourth minute goal, should have given the Galaxy a 2-0 lead, but in the second minute, Joseph Paintsil got behind the defense, but his shot hit the post.

Both teams had to splash their way up and down the field as rains left the field soaked. Hours before the game, members of the grounds crew and even some of the Galaxy technical staff were out with brooms and squeegees trying to move of the excess water from the field.

By the second half, the Sounders tried to push for the equalizing goal. The Sounders had the possession advantage and had more shots than the Galaxy.

“We needed to improve for sure,” Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida said. “Today we did well, it’s still a long season and we need to keep going and adjusting. We had a lot of discussions last week and we had to think about improvement. The three points were very massive.”

As much water as the field took, the Galaxy took just about the same amount of pressure, but surviving thanks same amount of pressure, but managing to defend their way to safety.

“The guys were resilient,” Vanney said. “It was not an easy field to play on, I think we dealt with 25 crosses that the guys had to clear and not many of them turned into anything dangerous.

“The guys dealt with some awkward numbers coming at them, but they did a good job pulling together and dealing with stuff. It was a resilient effort and one that we needed today.”

The win, not only kept the Galaxy’s unbeaten streak to start the season alive, but also gave the Galaxy their first MLS regular-season win over Seattle since 2018.

“Getting results makes everything better,” Galaxy midfielder Mark Delgado. “Makes all the difference in everyone’s attitude. I don’t think we played our best, but we got a good result. I don’t think it was our best, but we move on.”

The Galaxy will return to the field Saturday in the first El Trafico against rival LAFC at BMO Stadium.

The Galaxy have added Colombian defender Carlos Emiro Garces on loan from Deportivo Pereira through the end of the MLS season, the club announced Tuesday.

Garces, 22, has made 67 appearances with Pereira, since making his debut last year. During the current season, he’s made 10 appearances, nine starts.

The loan deal comes with an option to purchase.

Garces, a center back, gives the Galaxy some added depth at the position. Jalen Neal has yet to make his season debut and Martin Caceres, who has started next to Maya Yoshida this season, suffered an injury in last Saturday’s win over Seattle. The extent and severity of his injury has yet to be determined. Eriq Zavaleta is the only other healthy center back on the roster.

“He brings great experience for his age having been a part of Pereira’s first ever Colombian league title-winning team as well as starting matches in the 2023 Copa Libertadores competition,” Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz said in a statement. “We look forward to having Emiro’s experience and competitiveness bolster our defensive unit.”

The Galaxy are off to a better start on the defensive end this season, having allowed eight goals, along with an own goal in six games.

CARSON — The U.S. Open Cup dreams of Irvine Zeta FC are still alive.

The club from the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) took advantage of an early red card on its way to a 3-0 victory over the Galaxy’s second team, now known as Ventura County Futbol Club, on Wednesday night in the second round at Dignity Health Sports Park Track and Field Stadium.

The third-round draw will take place on Thursday.

“Excited, happy … all week long we really believed we could get a positive result and I think it showed today that we can play with anybody and that’s what we’re looking to do,” IZFC coach Tyler Silva said.

VCFC, which had defeated Irvine Zeta’s second team in the first round of the tournament, went down to 10 men in the 16th minute when midfielder Nicolas Barros Schelotto was issued a red card.

Late in the first half, Irvine Zeta broke through on the scoreboard as Rafael Espinoza scored after a ball was sent in from the left and a Galaxy defender failed to clear it.

“Obviously the red card changes the game,” Silva said. “But I think we started on the front foot and until the red card, if we weren’t better, we definitely weren’t worse.”

In the 61st minute, George Almeida’s shot from atop the 18-yard box hit the crossbar and went in for a 2-0 lead, then Marcel Salceda put the game away in the 88th minute with a counter-attack goal.

“I think we were able to handle the man-advantage well. We didn’t force things, we waited for the goal to come, the goal came and then we picked our moments to go for the second and third,” Silva said.

Irvine Zeta was founded in 2022 and in May of 2023, the National Independent Soccer Association Board of Governors approved the club’s application for membership in the professional league.

“It’s been one year, less than a year, we were in the UPSL, it’s our first year in a professional league and we’re trying to make the best environment possible,” Silva said. “We have really good players which helps and we’re looking to build a strong connection with the community.”

For VCFC, the team was without midfielder Jonathan Perez, defender Mauricio Cuevas and Marcus Ferkranus. Both Perez and Cuevas were with the Galaxy’s first team.

VCFC is unbeaten in MLS Next Pro play (3-0, nine points) and will return to league play on Sunday against Vancouver Whitecaps 2.

To a man, the Galaxy knew this season had to be better.

Last season, the Galaxy allowed a whopping 67 goals and finished in 13th place in the Western Conference. There really wasn’t anywhere else to go this year but up.

That’s what has happened through the first six games of the 2024 season, heading into the first city rivalry match against the Los Angeles Football Club.

The Galaxy sits on top of the Western Conference standings (3-0-3, 12 points) and is tied for the MLS lead in points.

“Stronger mindset, just sticking to the plan and sticking in games even when a few things go against us,” Galaxy midfielder Mark Delgado said. “Getting results makes everything better, changes the energy in the building, people are happier, walking around with a smile on their face, joking around for no reason, just getting results changes everything and makes a difference in everyone’s attitude.”

Through the first six games, the Galaxy have gotten results, leaning on some of that resiliency. The Galaxy trailed 2-0 against Nashville SC, but scored in the 67th and 82nd minute to get a draw. Against Sporting Kansas City, the Galaxy trailed 2-0 at halftime, but scored in the 72nd, 75th and 80th minutes for a 3-2 win.

“We’ve started really well, from preseason to now. I think you see this team, we’re all a unit, everybody is working hard defensively … and we have some good attacking threats,” midfielder Diego Fagundez said. “It’s one of those things that sometimes we go down and we all still believe we can come back and I think that’s huge.

“We’re at the top of the league and we want to stay there, but Saturday is another big game and if we want to stay there, it’s another challenge for us that we need to accomplish and I think the squad is definitely up for it.”

It is also a team that has been tested on the road. Including Saturday’s trip to BMO Stadium, the Galaxy have already had trips to Nashville, Sporting Kansas City and San Jose. Next Saturday, the team will again be on the road at Vancouver.

“These challenges that have been presented to us at the beginning, when I looked at our schedule to be honest with you at the start of the season, I thought, this is going to be a really difficult start to the season,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Because a number of these games are on the road against really good opponents that are hard to beat that we don’t have particularly great record against and the guys have managed each of these in our own way.

“We’ve managed each of these to get something out of them, which has been special. This (game with LAFC) is going to be no different from that way and it’s going to be a huge challenge, but the resiliency of the group and the quality of the group makes me excited to go in there and see what we can do.”

One reason for the Galaxy’s early-season momentum is on the defensive end. Through the first six games, the club has allowed nine goals, one of which is an own goal.

“We knew what the problem was (last year),” defender Maya Yoshida said. “I feel like we’re still improving, but still some games, I can see that we’re still lucky to get a point, so we still need to improve some things. I know Los Angeles people like to have their entertainment, but I’m prefer to have more solidarity (defending) and stability as well.”

GALAXY AT LAFC

When: Saturday, 4:45 p.m.

Where: BMO Stadium

TV: Fox (Ch. 11), Apple TV+ (free)

LOS ANGELES — A current nagging issue popped again for the Galaxy in Saturday’s first El Trafico meeting against Los Angeles Football Club and that just added to a frustrating night.

In the fourth minute, LAFC’s Timothy Tillman found himself alone on the back post on a corner kick and he knocked the ball into the goal for the opening goal.

The Galaxy have allowed five goals off of corner kicks this season.

“It’s frustrating to give up another goal, early like that …guy is wide open, super frustrating, something we have to look at, something we’ve talked about already,” Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy said.

That wasn’t the only frustration the Galaxy will take from the evening. Later in the first half, defender Miki Yamane was ruled to have fouled LAFC forward Denis Bouanga in the penalty area. Referee Jon Freemon didn’t hesitate, immediately pointing to the penalty spot. Even after going to the video review, the penalty stood.

“We give up a set piece goal early, which in my opinion, gives them a lot of confidence right from the bat, that they can get something out of this (game),” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “I know they’re a confident team, I know they’re at home, but I also think that they also know the quality and the speed and the pace and the different things that we have, you could see it by the number of fouls all over the field.”

LAFC was credited with committing 20 fouls, compared to just seven for the Galaxy. Four yellow cards were issued, all to LAFC.

“Referee couldn’t find his yellow card for a hell of a long time,” Vanney said. “So it just plays into their hands …In this league, if referees don’t call fouls, the team that wants to have the ball are going to lose a lot of games.

“The standard of the penalty foul was not the standard of the foul for the whole game, that’s the embarrassing part of it all. If that contact was the contact that set the standard for what is a foul in this game ….(defender) Maya (Yoshida) got mugged three or four times on set pieces …it’s just so inconsistent and it’s just hard, but we made mistakes, we didn’t play great, we didn’t find the right shape in the beginning of the game, which then afforded them some opportunities to counter.

“We got back to 1-1 and we immediately …for me I don’t believe it’s a penalty. I believe he kicks out his leg to our guy who slides and then goes down …it’s minimal at best ….my opinion, but we give back the lead instantly, which is a problem.”

After the Tillman’s fourth-minute goal, the Galaxy scored the equalizer in the 29th minute from Julian Aude. Six minutes later, Bouanga converted the penalty to make it 2-1 and that’s where the game remained.

Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made seven saves, several coming in the second half to keep the deficit at one goal.

“What you saw for the most of the night, is they sat in a relatively low block, they waited to try to turn us over and they broke out,” Vanney said. “If we don’t give the lead and it stays 0-0, or 1-1, then they have to consider coming off of their low block, which then opens the space for us to get after them.

“We also didn’t do ourselves any justice on the night and I think because we’re chasing the game through large stretches, we exposed ourselves sometimes on the counters that gave them opportunities.”

The Galaxy will return to action Saturday on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps.