LA Galaxy rolls past St. Louis City SC — and maybe launches Efrain Alvarez's breakout campaign

The LA Galaxy started Coachella with a bang.

After a 2-1 loss to NYCFC this past weekend in their home stadium, the Galaxy rebounded to beat expansion side St. Louis City SC 4-1 in club's first match at the Coachella Valley Invitational in Indio, Calif. Fans made their way out to the Empire Polo Club — the location of the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, but with soccer as the main attraction.  

Though Efrain Álvarez did not start the match, he left his mark late in the game, scoring a brace and putting the league on notice that this might just be his season. 

What happened in the match

The Galaxy started the game in a 4-4-2 shape with Memo Rodriguez and Mark Delgado appearing out wide for most of the first half. Chris Mavinga and Jonathan Klinsmann got their first preseason action of the new year.  

LA conceded the first goal of the match with Jared Stroud, who platooned for Austin FC last year, getting a touch on the ball after Galaxy defenders couldn’t clear a pass zipping in front of the goal in the 10th minute of the game. Vanney’s side struggled during the first 20 minutes with STL's pressure, but would build their way back in the game and in possession. 

The Galaxy responded in the 29th minute with Mark Delgado testing City goalkeeper Roman Bürki. Following the initial save, the shot's rebound landed right at Delgado who slotted it past the former Dortmund ‘keeper for the equalizing goal. The Galaxy began to play more one-touch passes and break down St. Louis with their quick passing and movements — reminiscent of the 2022 side that finished the season in great form. Unfortunately for Vanney’s team, their shots could not test Bürki at that stage. 

Just seven minutes into the second half, though, Dejan Joveljić got the ball in the box and finished to put LA up 2-1. With Chicharito off the field after 30 minutes, the Serbian was much more involved in the game and was a threat in the box.

After a handball was called in the box during the 66th minute, Álvarez stepped up to the penalty spot and put it past Ben Lundt to extend the lead.  After a corner kick clearance, Álvarez ran from midfield with the ball and called game with his second goal of the match for the match's final tally. The Galaxy sits with a 2-1-1 record in four preseason matches so far.

“Another good exercise in preseason, getting four goals is nice,” said Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney after the game. “I thought once we settled into our shape and settled into the game there were some very good moments throughout the course of it.” LA looked much sharper compared to its last match and was the better side for most of the game.

With this match being the Galaxy’s fourth of the preseason, Vanney expects to have some players playing a full 90 minutes in the club’s next match. “We're pushing fitness for guys, who didn't get 60 minutes the other night were able to get 60 minutes today and we're inching towards everybody getting 90 minutes starting on the weekend.

The Galaxy will play the Portland Timbers on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. PST.

‘I need this to be my year’

Although he’s just 20 years old, Álvarez is one of the longest-tenured players on the LA Galaxy roster. He’s been around the first team since the days of Zlatan Ibrahimović when he was 16 and will begin his fifth season in Major League Soccer. Álvarez has flashed talent since he was a teenager at LA Galaxy II, and wants this season to be the one where it all comes together.

“I need this to be my year, I need this to be my breakout year and I need this to be my best year,” said Álvarez after his two-goal performance. In 84 MLS games for the Galaxy, the Mexican midfielder has scored six goals and notched 11 assists. 2022 was his best season so far with eight goal contributions in 28 appearances — most memorably his spectacular game-winning goal at Charlotte.

Álvarez wants to make his dream of playing abroad come to fruition, and he's at a good age to springboard from MLS to Europe. “That's always been my dream but first I’m trying to do the best here for the club, win a cup and then see if anything happens well I'm ready to go,” stated Álvarez.

Although starting minutes haven’t been guaranteed for Álvarez during his time with the Galaxy, Vanney praised his work ethic.  

“[Álvarez] just comes to work every day regardless of what role he's been put on any given day. He's just come in and his work and just stayed focused on the things that he can control which is the best version of what Efra can do,” reflected Vanney. “Whether we play him wide or play them on the inside, he's just put in the work and he obviously has quality.”

Since his days at LA Galaxy II, it's easy to see talent in Álvarez’s left foot. He has the technical ability to hit the ball any way he wants and the vision to play a killer ball through defensive lines. 

“We've all seen the quality and so it's just about gaining all the little details and the little time edges that he can get from being a little sharper, a little quicker, a little all those things,” assessed Vanney. “He's been working hard on that and if he can, he will have a breakout year.”

For LA to be a contender for MLS Cup, the team needs depth and players who can change a game. If Álvarez can have his breakout season, it will be a significant boost for the Galaxy’s quest of reaching a sixth MLS Cup.