By Wendy Pintor
Although LA Galaxy has great momentum it’s up to them to not only use that energy in their favor but to deliberately deliver for the full match since it has been seen various times this season. LA is in regular league, with three injuries Gaston Brugman, swelling in the bone marrow, Julian Aude, groin injury and Dejan Joveljic with an unknown injury that happen in the beginning of the month. With few injured LA Galaxy seems to be doing well with their substitution, just this past weekend they took on Portland Timbers which is in 8th place fighting to get some points lost 3-2 Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec each recorded a goal, as the Galaxy remained unbeaten at Dignity Health Sports Park this season.
This Wednesday they will face off San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park, what seems to be an easy win, which will allow players who we haven’t seen much in action. Knowing that the bigger rival Chivas de Guadalajara with former LA Galaxy player Javier “ Chicharito “ Hernandez now plays in a team with huge prestige in the Mexican League. After drawing in their debut against the San Jose Earthquakes, FMF Lía Mexicana Chivas de Guadalajara continues to prepare for what is to come in the Leagues Cup, as this Sunday they will face the LA Galaxy in a match that will be decisive for the Rojiblanca cause, who need to win to advance to the next round, luckily for the Chivas they will only be concentrating on this game coming up.
“I think it's good for us just to see rewards for our labor. Getting these points helps you down the stretch. You never know in Leagues Cup, too, what can happen with teams. It can be anywhere from two to five, six games and you never know with teams. You don't know what teams are going to do in the window to re-enforce so every point matters. Set yourself up, have the confidence being in the position that we're in is always beneficial. So winning before we go on this stretch is beneficial and so I think emotionally it puts us in a good start and it helps me re-enforce some messages because you can see we can be at the top of the table. Now the question is how do we evolve to become a knockout champion type of team versus a team that, yeah, we can win games through the season but what's the evolution to become that threat to lift a trophy at the end." -Greg Vanney, Head Coach
In the 38th Riqui Puig’s incisive pass released Joseph Paintsil free down the right flank. Paintsil’s squared pass into the penalty area found Pec, whose sliding shot found the back of the net. 48’ Working down the left flank, Joseph Paintsil dribbled into area and found Riqui Puig at the top of the 18-yard box. Puig took a touch, before drilling his low shot into the lower corner of the goal. 52’ Jonathan Rodriguez’s shot from inside the box was curled into the lower right corner. 58’ Diego Fagundez delivered an outside the boot pass down the left side of the penalty area to Joseph Paintsil, who cut inside on his right foot and curled his shot past Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis. 73’ Santiago Moreno dribbled towards the top of the penalty area and fired a shot past LA goalkeeper John McCarthy.
Video Via Twitter:
“I think I have been saying it all the time, this group of players that we have we're so good. Either we play a good game and we win games or we make mistakes and sometimes it costs us and I think you can see we can score goals, we just have to be a little bit better so we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. Some games we can go up three goals and it would be a lot easier and we don't really have to stress but I guess we really lake that little danger part but I think it's huge going into first place we have eight or nine games left. Remind us that this break will help us and when we come back, make sure we stay on top." Added Diego Fagundez
FACTS/STATS:
-In 12 matches played at Dignity Health Sports Park during the 2024 campaign, the LA Galaxy hold an unbeaten record of 9-0-3 (30 GF, 17 GA). Notably, the Galaxy have won seven consecutive matches played (7-0-0) at Dignity Health Sports Park dating back to May 25, outscoring their opponents 19-9.
-In 12 matches played at DHSP during the 2024 campaign, Pec has tallied eight goals and eight assists. Paintsil has totaled 11 goal contributions (5 goals, 6 assists) in 10 matches played at Dignity Health Sports Park this season, while Puig has five goals and six assists in 10 matches played at the venue in 2024.
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