LA Galaxy’s Jaime Penedo, Leonardo Take Lumps, Move On

Mar 8, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo (18) looks to the sidelines during the first half against Real Salt Lake at StubHub Center. Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports

Jaime Penedo and Leonardo were their own worst enemies in giving up a howler to Darren Mattocks in the 2-2 draw between Bruce Arena’s LA Galaxy and Carl Robinson’s Vancouver Whitecaps. This week, Los Angeles are off, and the importance of regrouping from a terrible result cannot be stressed further.

“I’ve seen the play a lot,” Penedo told LAGalaxy.com’s Larry Morgan. “I like to think about every situation that happens in a game, especially ones that lead to a goal. I spoke to (goalkeeper coach) Matt (Reis) and Leo. We had the game under control by that point in the game.

“I feel like the forward (Mattocks) had luck on that play, although I’m the kind of person who doesn’t believe in luck. We just need to work harder and be able to avoid plays like that.”

“I’ve seen the play three or four times,” Leonardo added. “Those types of plays just happen during games. I really don’t know what happened.”

Meanwhile, the Under-18s are benefitting from a landmark 4-1 victory over Chivas de Guadalajara in the Dallas Cup’s Gordon Jago Super Group. One of those players: forward Jaime Villareal.

“We did a solid job defending at the start and caught them on the counter attack once we found the spaces behind,” Villarreal told LAGalaxy.com’s Adam Serrano. “It was a huge victory for us because they’re one of the best youth programs in Mexico. We wanted to end the tournament with a flourish and we did.

“I learned a great deal from that tournament. I was able to see other types of playing styles and as a team, we proved ourselves. It’ll help us play better and play as a team. I’m finally getting to play my best soccer. I feel like from now on, I’m going to be a better player and keep improving at every step.”

Meanwhile, a crew of aspiring footballers will look to join the Galaxy in Sueno MLS 2014. Here’s some info.

WHO:

• More than 400 aspiring young soccer players
• LA Galaxy Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Sarvas (on Sunday, April 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. PT)
• LA Galaxy Scouts
• Allstate’s Sueño MLS Ambassador Martin “El Pulpo” Zuñiga
• Univision Network’s República Deportiva personalities Carolina McCallister and Carla Aranguren

WHAT:

• LA Galaxy Tryouts for Sueño MLS 2014 – Presented by Allstate

WHERE:

• Bell Gardens Sports Center, 8000 Park Lane, Bell Gardens, CA 90201

WHEN:

• Saturday, April 26 from 8 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m. PT
• Sunday, April 27 from 7 a.m. to approximately 8:30 a.m. PT

WHY:

• To find the top six undiscovered young soccer players in Southern California that will compete for the Sueño MLS title at the National Final held in Carson, California, May 13-18, 2014.

Finally, both the Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles Galaxy II will both participate in the upcoming 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“It’s an important tournament. We’d like to do better,” said Arena to Serrano. “Hopefully, we’re not playing in Carolina again, but you never know with the way that our schedule has gone this year, we should book the tickets now.”

Be careful what you wish for, Bruce. Some background info…

• First Round-May 7 (16 amateur teams: 5 PDL, 4 USASA regional qualifiers, 5 NPSL, 1 US Club Soccer, 1 USSSA): Teams from the same qualifying pool cannot be paired with each other.

• Second Round-May 14 (8 First Round winners, 26 remaining amateur teams [14 PDL, 6 USASA regional qualifiers, 6 NPSL], and 14 Division III [USL PRO] clubs): Teams from the same qualifying pool cannot be paired with each other.

• Third Round-May 28 (24 Second Round winners and 8 Division II [NASL] clubs): Each Division II team will be matched geographically to play the winner of a specific Second Round pairing. The winners of the 16 remaining Second Round matches not paired with a Division II side will play each other.

• Fourth Round-June 10-18 (16 Third Round winners vs. Division I [MLS] clubs): Each Division I team will be matched geographically to play the winner of a specific Third Round pairing. The exact date for each match will be determined by the club selected as the home team from among those dates where the visiting team doesn’t have a league game already scheduled. The date selected must allow the visiting team at least two rest days before and after the match date.

• Fifth Round-June 24-25 (16 Fourth Round winners face each other): Each Fourth Round pair will be matched geographically with another Fourth Round pair to determine the Fifth Round possibilities.

• Quarterfinal (Sixth) Round-July 8-9: Each Fifth Round pair will be matched geographically with another Fifth Round pair to determine the Quarterfinal Round possibilities.

• Semifinal Round-Aug. 12-13: Each Quarterfinal Round pair will be matched geographically with another Quarterfinal Round pair to determine the Semifinal Round possibilities.

• Final-Sept. 30-Oct. 1