The LA Galaxy kept their unbeaten streak at Dignity Health Sports Park by beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2. The distance in the table between them and their rivals grows larger with favorable results across the league.
The LA Galaxy strengthened their case for the Western Conference title after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 in front of a sold-out Dignity Health Sports Park. Supporters got to watch all three of their designated players score while their closest conference rivals each dropped points, increasing the Galaxy’s lead on the chasing pack.
Greg Vanney seemed to have prepared for this match better than he did for El Tráfico as the LA Galaxy looked to be on top of possession from the first whistle.
Possession gave the Galaxy control of the match, but clear chances were few and far between thanks to Vancouver’s staunch defending. Riqui Puig, Dejan Joveljic, and Marco Reus combined in the 23rd minute to create a chance for Gabriel Pec, who’s left-footed shot was an easy catch for Vancouver’s keeper Yohei Takaoka.
Their possession allowed the pressure to build, and the LA Galaxy eventually made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute through Gabriel Pec. Riqui Puig picked up the ball in an advanced midfield position and slipped it through for Dejan Joveljic. The Serbian’s tough hold-up play kept the ball in Vancouver’s box just long enough for Pec to run onto the end of a loose tackle and left-foot the ball home for the Galaxy’s first goal in the 32nd minute.
Both sides continued to exchange a couple of blows until the halftime whistle. The Galaxy didn’t make any changes at the half but a moment of magic helped them add another goal not long after the restart.
John Nelson made a smart interception to end an attack from Vancouver and immediately looked to play on the counter. He made a brilliant, incisive pass which found Gabriel Pec on the run.
The Brazilian starlet reacted in his typical fashion by attacking the defense. He exploited the space in front of him for as long as he could, eventually combining with Riqui Puig before playing a square pass which bounced off Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, making it 2-0 Galaxy in the 50th minute.
The scoreline didn’t move for about 13 minutes as both sides continued trying to stake their claim on the match. Substitutions from both sides changed the game, eventually impacting the score.
A continued run of possession in the Galaxy’s half for Vancouver created a sequence which ended in a goal for Brian White in the 63rd minute.
The visitors grew a bit after making the match closer, but their search for the level gave the Galaxy a chance to counter.
Riqui Puig hit a brilliant outside-the-foot pass to find Gabriel Pec running down the wing again in the 69th minute. He drove until he saw Joseph Paintsil running in and laid off a great square pass towards his Ghanaian teammate. Paintsil obliged by tapping the ball home and scoring his 10th goal of the year while simultaneously making MLS history.
Paintsil’s goal made the LA Galaxy the first team in MLS history to have four different players score at least 10 goals in the same season.
The LA Galaxy had practically sealed the win at 3-1, but their dominance over the play only ended in another goal.
Another failed Vancouver attack ended at the feet of Gabriel Pec, who reacted in his typical fashion by driving at the opponent’s defense. His run gave him the space to find Riqui Puig in a great position, who took a touch before unleashing another right-footed shot which left the keeper rooted to the spot, making the score 4-1 in the 93rd minute.
The LA Galaxy were close to ending the match with just one goal conceded but a lapse of judgment from John McCarthy allowed Vancouver to add a second goal off of a corner in the 96th minute. Despite their late effort, the match ended in favor of the home side.
The LA Galaxy ended the match 4-2 on a night which Real Salt Lake dropped two points in a 3-3 draw against the Portland Timbers and LAFC lost 3-1 to FC Dallas.
They now have a 7 point lead over second place Real Salt Lake, an eight point lead over Colorado Rapids, and a nine point lead over LAFC. Each side has at least one game in hand against the Galaxy, but earning three points while their rivals dropped some puts them in an even stronger position to finish in first by the end of the regular season.
The LA Galaxy now have a week and a half off before their next game away at the Colorado Rapids on October second. Points on the road would be hugely important in their effort to secure first place and home playoff matches.
The Galaxy have once again proven their ability at home, but must prove their ability at securing road points in order to keep the pressure off of the selves and on their opponents.
PHOTO: LA GALAXY
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