CARSON, Calif. – The Swope Park Rangers earned their third consecutive victory as a second-half goal saw the visitors defeat the LA Galaxy II 1-0 on Friday night at StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium. Swope Park (8-4-2, 26pts) had the majority of the play early, but the Galaxy II (3-10-2, 11pts) almost took the lead in the 28th minute as a free header for Tyler Turner bounce hard off the turf and went over the crossbar. Los Dos’ Adonis Amaya also had a good chance saved by SPR goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas after the Galaxy II forward outmuscled his defender as they tussled for a long ball forward, but the game went to the break scoreless. The Rangers again gained the initiative to open the second half as Tyler Pasher threatened down the left. Kevin Oliveira forced a good save by Eric Lopez in the 57th minute from a free kick on the left, while Zendejas had to tip a shot by Ryo Fujii over the bar. Swope Park took the lead in the 63rd minute, however, as Nansel Selbol struck only two minutes after coming on as a substitute with a low shot to the right corner after more good work by Pasher. Selbol hit the crossbar two minutes later with a curling shot from the left side of the penalty area, and Los Dos had to make a clearance off the line to deny Mark Anthony Gonzalez and keep it a one-goal deficit with 15 minutes to go. Selbol was again denied his second of the night with four minutes to go on a good save by Lopez, but it would prove academic as the Rangers comfortably held their lead to the final whistle.

Scoring: 
63’ – SPR – Nansel Selbol (Tyler Pasher)

• #LAvSPR: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. There’s likely little more gratifying for a coach than seeing a substitution make a decisive impact on the game. For the Swope Park Rangers, the difference-maker off the bench on Friday night was Nansel Selbol, and the 20-year-old former SKC Academy standout scored almost immediately after coming into the game, and remained a threat throughout the remainder of the game that saw him hit the crossbar, and come close to setting up other chances. Selbol now has three goals this season after providing just the spark his side needed.

• 2. Swope Park had been on top before Selbol’s introduction, in particular thanks to the attacking forays that saw the visitor’s quick attacking passing and movement in the Galaxy II half that opened up regular chances. The Rangers will be disappointed that they weren’t sharper with their finishing, as the side finished with only five shots on goal, but after finding a way to win after being on the back foot regularly against Tulsa on Tuesday, the team will be pleased it got back to dictating the tempo of the game to take a fourth win in its last five games.

• 3. With the chances the Rangers failed to take advantage of in the first half, the Galaxy II had their own opportunities to take the lead before halftime, particularly through set pieces. Tyler Turner’s header that took a hard bounce off the ground in the penalty area to bounce over the crossbar – going off Adrian Zendejas’ outstretched fingertips along the way – was one such chance, but Los Dos was unable to capitalize. As a result, LA reached double-digit defeats for the season.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Nansel Selbol, Swope Park Rangers – Selbol provided the opening goal two minutes after coming on as a substitute, and could have had more in a livewire performance.

Upcoming Games:
LA Galaxy II at Reno 1868 FC – July 3, 10:30 p.m. ET, Greater Nevada Field
Swope Park Rangers vs. Rio Grande Valley FC – July 8, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field