Midweek friendly matches can present opportunities for teams.

For the LA Galaxy, Tuesday’s midweek friendly match with Costa Rican club CS Herediano presented a chance for some players to impress head coach/general manager Bruce Arena an therefore earn a spot on the team, while for some players, it was a chance to further round themselves into match form.

“You never know when your name is going to be called,” Galaxy defender Leonard Griffin said. “Everyone took this as preparation for when their time comes.”

The Galaxy did all that, and also collected a win, as Edson Buddle’s 12th minute strike was all the Galaxy needed to defeat CS Herediano 1-0 at the Home Depot Center Tuesday night.

“It was a good opportunity to play against a good quality opponent,” Arena said. “It was a worthwhile exercise.”

Buddle had missed the Galaxy’s first four matches of the season due to injury. He has been used primarily as a substitute since returning to the team, and is regaining the touch that enabled him to score 15 goals last season, scoring the equalizing goal in Los Angeles’ 1-1 draw against Kansas City on May 30 and scoring the game winner this past Saturday in the Galaxy’s first win at BMO Field against Toronto FC.

Buddle got his chance in the 12th minute when Griffin fed him a through ball and Buddle dribbled past three Herediano defenders before sending the shot off at the very top of the box past Ricardo Gonzalez to the far left post.

“It’s a matter of getting into a rhythm,” Buddle said. “Once you get more in games, find the flow of the game and work hard, things seem to come your way.”

The match presented an opportunity for a group of international trialists, defender Jamil Fearrington, midfielder Mark Haskins and defender Fred Murray. Haskins, who played for South African club Moroka Swallows, is considered the most heralded of the trialists and got the start.

“It was really good, I enjoyed it,” Haskins said. “The game here is a lot faster than it is back home and I struggled a little with the pace, but I enjoyed it.”

Haskins first touch with the ball in the seventh minute had him send a dangerous cross into the box that unfortunately went behind several Galaxy players. His next chance came in the 24th minute when he stripped the ball from Fabian Rojas, dribbled past a pair of Herediano players on his way to goal and launched a shot that was blocked. The ball however went to Bryan Jordan who actually scored, but was offside when he took his shot.

“Mark had a solid evening,” Arena said. “Mark’s been with us for three to four days of training, it was good to see him on a big field and we’ll continue to evaluate him.”

Fearrington, who played for Boldklubben Frem of the Danish first division, came in as a substitute to start the second half. Fearrington looked tentative at first but soon settled down, getting a pair of strips from two Herediano players in the 60th and 61st minute. Murray, who helped Exeter City win promotion to England’s League One this past season, came on in the 65th minute.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” “It’s a fast game, very fast compared to the Danish game I’m used to,” Fearrington said. “There’s a lot of difference, but I like it, I think it suits me well.”

The Galaxy resume MLS play this Saturday, as it looks to increase its unbeaten streak to 11 against Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.