CARSON, Calif. (Kyodo) Oita Trinita lost 2-0 to MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy on the opening day of the Pan-Pacific Championship on Wednesday.
Oita's hopes of following up on the success of fellow J. League club Gamba Osaka last year in the first edition of the four-team competition were dashed as Edson Buddle's 44th-minute goal and Jovan Kirovski's second-half penalty gave Galaxy victory in the preseason match at The Home Depot Center.
Galaxy clinched a slot in Saturday's championship match against South Korea's Suwon Bluewings, who beat Shandong Luneng of China in the opening game. Oita, last season's Nabisco Cup winner, will battle it out with Shandong for third place.