Galaxy Grab Win Against Toronto as Efrain Alvarez Makes First Career MLS Start.

 The Los Angeles Galaxy returned home and returned to their winning ways, this time against Toronto FC for their share of 4^th of July action around Major League Soccer. Coach Barros Schelotto, in need of a win at home, had an ace up his sleeve this time around by the name of Efrain Alvarez, who made his first career MLS start. The Mexican-American youngster did not disappoint.

Toronto FC dominated ball possession most of the game, ending up with 59% ball possession. Both teams however had their equal share of opportunities to score throughout. The Angelinos came close early on in the 22^nd minute, when a series of rebounds and shots on goal, first from Julian Araujo and finally from Joe Corona, ended up going over the top crossbar. Toronto FC also came close at the 52^nd minute, when a shot from Alejandro Pozuelo also went just over the crossbar. This type of back and forth continued well into the second half, with both teams coming close but it wasn’t until the 75^th minute when the Galaxy was finally able to open up the scoring. The Galaxy wonder-kid, Efrain Alvarez, enjoying his first game as a starter in league play, lobbed in a perfectly placed pass into the area to a wide-open Zlatan who needed only to header the ball in for the 1-0. Toronto FC attempted to tie the game in the final minutes, but their attempts backfired, when in the 89^th minute, another rookie-to-veteran connection gave the Galaxy a 2-0 advantage. This time around it was rookie Emil Cuello, who came in for Emma Boateng late in the second half, that was able to give Zlatan a superb pass on the ground, leaving the Swedish veteran one-on-one with the Toronto goalie. Of course, the Lion would not be forgiving and easily placed the ball past goalkeeper Quentin Westberg to give the home team the definitive 2-0 win.

With this, the Galaxy were able to end a three-game home losing streak and added some space between themselves and FC Dallas, who was quickly cutting distances between the Angelino’s second place spot in Major League Soccer standings and the Texan’s third place standing. As for the Galaxy, they will remain at home as they play host to the San Jose Earthquakes for another rendition of the Cali Clasico. They’ll be looking to avenge their loss last week against San Jose, a memorable 3-0 loss at Stanford Stadium. Toronto FC for their end will be heading out to Montreal to measure themselves up against the Montreal Impact.