Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba still has it.
Drogba, who is now playing with Phoenix Rising FC in the USL, unleashed a wicked shot from approximately 35 yards in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Galaxy II. The ball hit the upper corner for a goal. Galaxy II keeper Clement Diop didn’t have a chance.
Take a look at the video:
https://twitter.com/USL/status/894028997360668672
Orange County Soccer Club will be without Ami Pineda and Jerry van Ewijk for a long stretch due to suspensions following Saturday’s late-game scuffle with Portland Timbers 2. The game ended in a 3-3 draw.
Pineda was hit with a six-game suspension, while van Ewijk received a five-game suspension. Both of their suspensions will begin with Saturday’s game against Phoenix Rising FC.
The incident occurred late in the July 1 game when van Ewijk become tangled up with a Portland player, leading to both players following the ground. Pineda came in afterward.
Following the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy II (2-5-1, seven points) made it a perfect 2-for-2 with their 2-1 victory over New York Red Bulls II.
After allowing an early goal, Adonis Amaya (49th minute) and Justin Dhillon (72nd) scored 
the goals for Galaxy II to preserve the victory.
Nathan Smith started in defense for LA Galaxy II. Smith might be back with first team next week with Bradley Diallo getting sent off with two yellow cards in the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory against the Red Bulls.
“I’m really, really happy for the team,” coach Mike Munoz said. “Obviously it’s been a tough couple weeks. We asked for a response, we asked for a reaction. Even going a goal down, the boys fought for 90 minutes and we thoroughly deserved to get the three points today.”
The starting 11 for LA Galaxy II averaged 19.7 years of age.
The Orange County Soccer Club played their first game at home this season and had a smashing debut, trouncing LA Galaxy II, 4-0 at the Orange County Great Park of Irvine in the second I-405 Derby.
OCSC (3-1-1, 10 points) will play their home games at the Great Park and will eventually move into a permanent stadium at the same location once it is completed.
Jerry van Ewjik scored a pair of goals and Wulito Fernandes added another for OCSC.
LA Galaxy II (1-4-1, six points) will return to the field Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against Real Monarchs SLC and then travel to New York to face Red Bulls II, Sunday at 6 p.m.
Orange County SC will be on the road next Saturday at Tulsa Roughnecks FC.
In what is being billed as the I-405 Derby, Galaxy II and Orange County SC settled for a 1-1 draw in their first meeting of 2017 in front of a crowd of 2,225, Saturday.
OCSC opened the scoring thanks to an own goal in the 50th minute. In the 66th minuted, Adrian Vera knocked home a rebound after a free kick from Ari Lassiter hit the crossbar to even the score at 1-1.
The teams will face off again May 6 in Irvine.
https://twitter.com/LAGalaxyII/status/855994876424364032
Newly-branded Orange County Soccer Club opened the 2017 USL season in style with a 2-0 victory over Reno 1868 FC, Saturday.
Markhus “Duke” Lacroix scored in the 30th minute and added another in the 45th to seal the victory. This is Lacroix’s first year in Orange County, having spent the previous two years with Indy Eleven of the NASL.
.@MDukeLacroix strikes again! @orangecountysc takes a 2-0 lead at the half. pic.twitter.com/9FpAo2eM8s
— USL (@USL) March 26, 2017
Galaxy II opened the 2017 USL season with a 2-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at StubHub Center.
Los Dos opened the scoring in the fifth minute with what was ruled as an own goal. In the 67th minute, Ethan Zubak added another goal as new coach Mike Munoz picked up his first victory, replacing Curt Onalfo.
https://twitter.com/LAGalaxyII/status/845766116118974464
Jon Kempin started in goal and recorded three saves.
Six players made their debut for Galaxy II: Kempin, Ian Lonergan, Jean Engola, Tyler Turner and Miguel Aguilar and Justin Dhillon came on as a second-half sub.
Galaxy II will return to action Saturday at San Antonio FC.
The first team might have the week off, but the Galaxy II will kick off the 2017 USL season, Saturday against Vancouver Whitecaps 2 FC at the StubHub Center’s Track and Field Stadium 
at 2 p.m.
Former Galaxy player Mike Munoz replaces Curt Onalfo as coach of the club.
13 players are signed to USL contracts with Galaxy II. Seven of those players return from the 2016 roster and six are former Galaxy Academy members: midfielders Ryo Fujii and Adrian Vera, forwards Ethan Zubak and Adonis Amaya and goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon and Eric Liopez.
Here is the roster ahead of the season opener:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bennett Sneddon, Eric Lopez
DEFENDERS (4): Tyler Turner, Robert Castellanos, Jean Engola, Josh Turnley
MIDFIELDERS (4): Ryo Fujii, Adrian Vera, Miguel Aguilar, Andre Zanga
FORWARDS (3): Ethan Zubak, Adonis Amaya, Justin Dhillon
Per USL rules, a total of 30 players are allowed on a USL team’s roster at any time. In addition to those 30 roster spots, five Academy players are permitted to be members of that roster, for a total of 35.
With 13 players currently signed to USL contracts with Galaxy II, Galaxy and Galaxy Academy players will fill out the remaining space on the Galaxy II roster.
At any point in the season, the Galaxy’s MLS and Academy players are allowed to be made inactive or active on Galaxy II’s roster, with USL rules allowing the club to fluidly move players in and out of the 30-man roster throughout the season.
The Orange County Soccer Club announced the signing of former Seattle Sounders
Orange County Soccer Club
goalkeeper Charlie Lyon, former Galaxy II defender Joe Franco and Santa Ana native Amirgy Pineda.
Lyon, who attended Marquette University, spent the previous two years with the Sounders, playing mostly with Sounders 2.
Franco, 27, joined Galaxy II in 2014 and helped lead the club to the Western Conference title in 2015. He played with Miami FC of the NASL last year.
Pineda, 19, was born and raised in Santa Ana. He trained at the Nike Academy in England and was eventually signed to the LA Galaxy Academy.
The club opens preseason play, Saturday at LMU (1 p.m.). The regular season begins May 6 against Galaxy II.
Oscar Sorto has signed with the Orange County SC, the club announced Thursday.
Orange County Soccer Club
Sorto, 22, is a former Galaxy Homegrown Player. He made five appearances for the first team, spending the majority of his with Galaxy II.
He was signed as a Homegrown Player in 2012 by the Galaxy. Sorto was the first defender to be signed directly from the Galaxy Academy.
Sorto was out of contract with the Galaxy following the 2016 season.
“We are excited for Oscar to join our organization,” Orange County SC coach Logan Pause said. “He is a talented young full back, who immediately strengthens our team and we are keen to continue his development.”
OCSC is the official affiliate of Los Angeles Football Club.