Columbus Crew SC midfielder Hector Jimenez is familiar with the Black & Gold's cross-conference opponent, the LA Galaxy.
The Bell Garden, Calif., native was the 34th overall selection in the 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, selected by the LA Galaxy. Jimenez helped the Galaxy to the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in his rookie season making two appearances, including one start.
In his sophomore season with the Galaxy – en route to his second consecutive MLS Cup title – Jimenez saw his playing time increase drastically. He earned 15 appearances and 13 starts. In his first action of 2012, he started and scored a third-minute goal against San Jose and later added his first career assist at San Jose. His second assist of the season – the game-winner – was on a second half goal in the 2-0 win over Vancouver. During the Galaxy’s 2012-2013 CONCACAF Champions League run, he made five appearances – including four starts – and logged 358 minutes of action. He made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut in the Knockout Round, come-from-behind, 2-1 win over Vancouver.
Jimenez’s third and final season in LA set early career highs in appearances (26), starts (14), goals (three) and assists (four) in regular-season action. He added an assist at Real Salt Lake and scored his first goal of the season at Philadelphia. He scored his second goal of the season in the match against San Jose at Stanford Stadium and later added an insurance goal – his third tally of the year – in the 2-0 win against FC Dallas. Jimenez made his second career MLS Cup Playoffs appearance in a substitute role in the First Leg of the 2013 Western Conference Final in which Real Salt Lake would ultimately advance.
Since joining Columbus in a trade before the 2014 season, Jimenez has 84 appearances with 53 starts with one goal scored and 11 assists.
Columbus Crew SC hosts the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night at MAPFRE Stadium. This will be the only meeting this season between the cross-conference rivals. The match is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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