Galaxy Falls to Necaxa

It was an exhibition with a makeshift lineup and the Galaxy losing, but Coach Frank Yallop still walked away happy with the outcome.

One reason was that there were no injuries in the Galaxy’s 1-0 loss to Club Necaxa, a Mexican professional soccer team, in an international friendly at the Home Depot Center on Wednesday.

The second was that Yallop was impressed with his starters, mostly young players and invited guests, many of whom are looking for an extended stay with the team.

“I wasn’t too concerned with the result,” Yallop said, “just with the players getting minutes and impressing me.”

Those players included Evans Wise, one of Yallop’s teammates with the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny of MLS, and 16-year-old Kennedy Owusu-Ansah, of Canada’s under-20 national team.

The only Galaxy regulars who started were defensemen Nathan Sturgis and Ugo Ihemelu.

Regular starters Landon Donovan, Chris Albright and Kevin Hartman suited up, but did not play.

“They’re tired,” Yallop said. “When you put players in a game like this and they’re tired, the only thing that can happen is they’ll get injured.”

The Galaxy, which was out-shot, 9-5, fell to 1-4-2 against Necaxa.

Brazilian striker Kleber Boas, in his first season with Necaxa, scored in the 11th minute. Boas pounced on a rebound after a shot from Mario Perez ricocheted off goalkeeper Steve Cronin. Boa, falling to his right, struck the ball sharply into the upper-right corner.

The Galaxy nearly scored in the 48th minute when Wise shook his defender and centered the ball as he fell.

A sliding John Wolyniec reached the pass but couldn’t muster much of a shot and the ball dribbled slowly to the right of the net.

The Galaxy returns to MLS play Saturday against Home Depot co-tenant Chivas USA.

“This game has been looming, but we actually have ourselves within striking distance,” Yallop said.

The Galaxy trails Chivas USA by five points for fourth place in the Western Conference.