Galaxy to make home debut vs. Whitecaps

The new-look Los Angeles Galaxy, with Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, will make their home debut Saturday when they face the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Hernandez took the field with the Galaxy for the first time Saturday at Houston, but goal-scoring partner Cristian Pavon stole the show with a blast from the edge of the penalty area in a 1-1 tie.

It was something of a slow afternoon for Hernandez, who had one shot and 32 touches, the lowest number on the team.

"It's my first official game in this league," Hernandez said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I don't want to use that as an excuse, but I have to adapt myself to this league, to my teammates. Always the first game in the season is a little bit like a hangover of the preseason."

Despite losing the early lead when Houston scored in the 54th minute, the Galaxy (0-0-1) were ultimately satisfied with the point in the standings.

The Whitecaps (0-1-0) had little to feel good about after a 3-1 season-opening defeat Saturday at home against Sporting Kansas City. Vancouver tied the score 1-1 on a goal from Jake Nerwinski in the 28th minute, but a goal just before halftime and one in second-half stoppage time won it for Sporting KC.

Newcomer David Milinkovic helped set up Nerwinski's goal, while Lucas Cavallini hit the post just before halftime and almost tied it with three minutes remaining in the game.

The play of Milinkovic and Cavallini gave hopes of better things ahead, but there was simply not enough offensive urgency in the opener.

"Rewatching the (game), it was so disappointing our level of pressure in the game," Whitecaps head coach Marc Dos Santos told reporters after practice Tuesday. "When you go through a preseason where 80 percent of the time you're on the opponent and did that job well ... what happened?"

The Galaxy lead the all-time series 11-6-5, although the Whitecaps earned a 4-3 victory in the most recent meeting in September of last season.

--Field Level Media