Historic LA Galaxy attack leads the way to 4-2 win over Vancouver
The Galaxy defeat the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 at home as the attacking front celebrated reaching a new milestone in MLS history.
LA and Whitecaps had a tense start to the game, with each team feeling each other out. LA began to break through the ‘Caps, and eventually, Gabriel Pec put the home side on top in the 32nd minute.
Just minutes after halftime, the Galaxy found a second goal through an own goal by Sebastian Berhalter. Pec played a low-driven cross into the box, which led to a deflection from the Whitecaps player.
The visitors did make it interesting for a bit with Brian White’s goal in the 64th minute. But soon enough, the Galaxy’s attack extended the lead.
A great counterattack from the LA Galaxy put LA in a two-goal buffer with all three Designated Players combining. Riqui Puig played a great outside-of-the-boot pass for Pec to chase down. It was then capped off by an excellent pass for Joseph Paintsil to tap in at the far post.
With Paintsil’s goal, LA has four double-digit goal-scorers during the 2024 MLS campaign. The Galaxy is the first team in MLS history with four players to have scored 10 or more goals in the same season (Dejan Joveljić: 14 goals; Paintsil: 10 goals; Pec: 13 goals; Riqui Puig: 11 goals).
The night ended with Puig scoring his 11th goal of the season during stoppage time. The game ended on a sour note as the Whitecaps scored a late corner kick header from Sam Adekugbe.
“We got through it tonight, and always the third game in a busy week, you've got to do what you've got to do in some ways,” said Head Coach Greg Vanney.
“But for us, a lot of the discussion is trying to continue to set a championship-type of behavior. I think when we are talking about closing out games, when you have a goal-lead or a two-goal lead making sure that we are making championship decisions because we're going to have to when it really get down to it,” he added.
The Galaxy attack has meshed so well as the ‘24 season has gone on. Each of the LA Galaxy’s four main goal scorers has had their moments during the season where they have carried the load for the club.
The nights where all three Designated Players scored and assisted each other are truly special. The victory over Vancouver sent a message to the Western Confrence that it has the fire power to breakdown anyone.
"As we started to put the team together and looking at the characteristics of the group, I'm not totally surprised,” said Vanney about the new record his attacking pieces created.
“I still think the group is continuing to, in some ways, just scratch the surface of their relationships,” he added. “We have a lot of attacking quality in the group which I think makes the games entertaining. Too many of them are 4-2, though. I would prefer if they were 4-0.”
Vanney mentioned the addition of Reus to the squad and the consistent play of Diego Fagundez off the bench, which can help the squad continue to reach new levels and who can add more to the attack.
"I think kudos to the technical team. Kudos to everyone involved bringing us together as a team,” said Paintsil postgame.
“It will also give us the confidence to do extra more and to also write our name in the history book of L.A. Galaxy at the end of the season. That's what we always are trying to make it manifest and let it happen,” added the Ghanaian winger
It’s now back-to-back games for the Paintsil in his inaugural season with the club. He’s played over 60 games for club and country since the start of the ‘23/24 European season. Despite the mileage on his legs, he’s still finding ways to be productive in MLS play.
Notably, Paintsil and Pec are the first-ever pair of teammates to record 10-plus goals and 10-plus assists in their inaugural season in MLS.The two wingers reportedly cost close to $20 million dollars and is paying dividends with consistent production from the pair all season long.
Pec was the player of the game with his goal and two assists on the night. His low-driven cross is what led to the own goal, and he continued to use his blistering pace to drive through the Whitecaps’ defense.
Results around the Western Conference also went the LA Galaxy’s way on Saturday night. LAFC lost Dallas and Real Salt Lake tied with Portland. LA now reams at the top of the West with a seven-point gap from second-place RSL.
The Galaxy has three games remaining in the regular season but will look to build championship habits heading into the postseason.
The Galaxy front line clicking at this stage of the season is monumental for the championship aspirations of the teams.
It’s not if they’ll score on you, but when they’ll score on you.