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ESPN staff 9y

Giovani dos Santos scores in his debut as the LA Galaxy beat Central FC 5-1

Giovani dos Santos scored in his LA Galaxy debut as the Major League Soccer outfit rolled to a 5-1 win over Central FC in its CONCACAF Champions League Group D opener at StubHub Center.

Alan Gordon, who captained the Galaxy on the evening, got the scoring going, heading home a Gyasi Zardes cross in the fourth.

Central FC, who plays in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League, levelled the score minutes later after the Galaxy's Brian Rowe committed a foul in the penalty area. Central's Ataullah Guerra converted from the spot.

After that it was all Los Angeles, as the defending MLS Cup champions dominated possession and re-took the lead at the 32-minute mark when Raul Mendiola converted from the center of the penalty area from a Gordon pass.

Zardes put the Galaxy up 3-1 in the 55th minute, when he made the most of a penalty chance following a Keion Goodridge foul in the penalty area. Dos Santos came on following the goal from Zardes, substituting for Gordon in the 57th minute.

Dos Santos opened his Galaxy account in the 76th minute, putting one past Central goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams to make the score 4-1. Ignacio Maganto finished things off for the home team with a fifth goal in the 84th to put the match well beyond reach.

Dos Santos will make his MLS debut Sunday at home against Seattle alongside Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard, who both skipped Thursday's game. Dos Santos has played for Mexico in two World Cup tournaments during nine years with El Tri.

The Galaxy next face Guatemalan club Comunicaciones on Aug. 18 at StubHub Center.

Herediano made short work of Metapan in the other CCL match of the evening. The Costa Rican club beat its El Salvadoran counterpart 3-0 to secure the win in its group stage opener of the region's Champions League competition.

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