AS Los Angeles Runs Away With SoCal Premier Under-23 Title

GLENDALE, CA (July 31, 2022) – Cesar Dominguez gave his team a lead it could not lose.

Dominguez scored three times as AS Los Angeles defeated Inland Empire Republic FC 4-1 on Sunday night at the Glendale Sports Complex in the season finale for the SoCal Premier League’s Men’s Under-23 Division.

“Coming in to the game we knew what was at stake. We needed the 'W', we knew we needed to unsettle them (and) make them uncomfortable," AS Los Angeles President Harry Tachian said.

Dominguez netted the opener in the 4^th minute when he blasted a free kick into the top left corner to give AS Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.

Bagdik Bagdasaryan gave ASLA a 2-0 lead four minutes later with a well-placed header from a corner kick, and Dominguez got the home side a third goal in the 10^th minute with a sizzling shot through traffic.

“We put them under pressure right away and early. We capitalized on our early set plays," Tachian said. "I told my squad, 'If you want to be champions then you need to protect your lead.' We did what champions do and brought the title to L.A. County." 

Ebrahim Njie broke loose and scored for IE Republic FC in the 59^th minute, but Dominguez earned a penalty 20 minutes later and easily converted to regain the three-goal lead.

It’s the first league championship for AS Los Angeles’ Under-23s (9-1-1 overall), which produced 10 shots on goal in the win.

IE Republic FC (8-2-1) did not produce a shot on goal until the second half.

“I don’t know why we started so slowly. We cannot expect results playing another 10 minutes like the first 10 tonight,” IE Republic FC coach Gabriel Placencia said.

IE Republic FC’s first team won the 2022 SoCal Premier Spring 1^st Division title and topped its group at the NISA Independent Cup.