Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, whose absence through injury has caused, well, a giant 6-5 hole in the middle of the back four, passed his sternest rehabilitation test yet this morning, coming through a 45-minute scrimmage against Academy youngsters with no significant problems.

It was his longest outing in a game since the injury.

“I’m taking it day by day,” Gonzales said who has been back in full training with the team for just over two weeks. “I’ve been getting stronger every day. I’m having a lot of fun.

“For the most part I did well, but I wasn’t really tested,” he said of today’s scrimmage. “I didn’t have to get up for a lot of headers.

“My knee feels great. Some spots are a little tender. There’s still the overall healing process going on.”

Gonzalez is projecting a return to the first team at month’s end or the start of August.

Incidentally, Michael Stephens had a nice goal from long-range today.

I’ll have more on the Galaxy and MLS in general in Tuesday’s column.