Los Angeles Galaxy vs El Salvador

El Salvador needed just 14 minutes to open the scoring. Tejada, who had entered the match from the substitutes' bench, found the net to put La Selecta 1-0 up. Two minutes later, Henríquez doubled the advantage — another substitute making an immediate impact — as El Salvador's attacking transitions sliced through the Galaxy defence.

The Galaxy, fielding a mix of first-team regulars and MLS Next Pro players, struggled to contain El Salvador's movement in the final third. Tejada struck again in the 31st minute to complete his brace and make it 3-0, effectively ending the contest before the half-time interval.

The second half saw wholesale changes from both benches as the training-match format allowed both coaching staffs to experiment with personnel and shape. No further goals were scored, and the 3-0 scoreline stood at full-time.

Tejada's opening goal in the 14th minute broke the deadlock, but the decisive moment came just two minutes later when Henríquez made it 2-0. Conceding twice in a 120-second span left the Galaxy chasing the game before they had settled into any rhythm.

El Salvador's structure — a 3-5-2 that shifted into a five-man defensive line without the ball — gave the Galaxy little room to build through midfield. The midfield trio shielded the back three effectively, limiting LA's chances to speculative efforts from distance.

Rafael Tejada — The striker's brace (14', 31') settled the contest inside the first half-hour. His movement off the shoulder of the last defender caused persistent problems for the Galaxy backline. Player of the match.

Jairo Henríquez — The winger's goal in the 16th minute doubled the lead and effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair. His pace on the counter was a persistent threat throughout his time on the pitch.

El Salvador defence — Kept a clean sheet against an MLS side, limiting the Galaxy to few clear chances after the break. The back three, protected by the midfield screen, were rarely troubled.

The 3-0 scoreline at half-time reflected El Salvador's clinical finishing rather than total territorial dominance. The closed-door nature of the friendly means detailed xG data is not publicly available, but the pattern of the game was clear: El Salvador scored with three of their first four shots on target, while the Galaxy failed to convert any of their opportunities.

The 3-5-2 system deployed by Gómez gave El Salvador numerical superiority in central areas, allowing them to control the tempo in the first half. LA Galaxy's best chances came in the second half after both sides had made multiple substitutions, but none found a way past the Salvadoran goalkeeper.

For El Salvador, the victory provides a positive start to their US training camp. The win builds momentum ahead of further friendlies: a 3-0 loss to LAFC on 5 July at BMO Stadium (goals from Delgado, Ebobisse and Hollingshead), and a further closed-door fixture against Club Tijuana. Gómez will have been encouraged by the impact of his substitutes — both Tejada and Henríquez scored after coming off the bench — and the defensive solidity of the 3-5-2 shape.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, continued their pre-season preparation with this closed-door scrimmage following a 30 June match against Club Tijuana. Vanney's side were scheduled to face Club América in a ticketed friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park on 11 July before resuming their MLS campaign with El Trafico against LAFC on 17 July.

Both teams were using these friendlies to build fitness and sharpness during the FIFA World Cup 2026 break, with the Galaxy also preparing for the Leagues Cup later in the summer.

A straightforward, professional performance from El Salvador, who took their chances and kept a clean sheet against an MLS opponent in a training-ground setting. The scoreline flattered neither side — it reflected the difference in finishing quality on the day. For the Galaxy, the result is a footnote in pre-season; for El Salvador, it is a useful marker of progress under Gómez as they build toward competitive Concacaf Nations League fixtures later in the year.