LA Galaxy lost by a narrow scoreline of 2-1 to the Portland Timbers in their opening game in the MLS is Back tournament on Monday.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who transferred’ to Los Angeles from Sevilla at the start of the year, scored his first MLS goal for LA Galaxy in the 88th minute of the match. Unfortunately, this proved too little too late, as Jeremy Ebobisse and Sebastian Blanco had already netted for Portland in the 59th and 66th minute respectively.
While Hernandez’ maiden goal should have been something to be celebrated, the Mexican national team player still felt much disappointment over the 12th minute penalty which he failed to score.
Reeling in defeat, Chicharito expressed his feelings on the matter, “It’s not the greatest taste, scoring your first goal with a loss like this one and then when you miss a penalty obviously. I told the lads that this one was on me. I always believe that in this sport, even when sometimes the goal-scorer can score the last-minute goal, he’s not a hero, and, for example, that I missed the penalty or someone makes a mistake, it’s not only his fault.”
According to coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Galaxy’s loss was unjustified. “We didn’t deserve to lose,” Schelotto explained. “We gave them the opportunities to score goals, but we need to be more intense in defense.”
