LA Galaxy stays undefeated at home following 4-2 win over Kansas City
Gabriel Pec shines on the night with a goal and two assists
The LA Galaxy returned to MLS action with a 4-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. LA had four different goalscorers and found a way to get all three points with star player Riqui Puig out due to injury.
It was a slow start to action in Carson but the home side eventually got the breakthrough in the 40th minute from striker Dejan Joveljić. The Serbian, who now has 10 goals in MLS action, combined with winger Gabriel Pec to break down SKC’s backline. The two players had their shots saved but a second rebound fell to Joveljić who made sure to put that into the back of the net.
LA found its second of the night through Pec in the 54th minute of the match. It was Joveljić once again that played a part in the goal but this time as the provider with a quality ball for Pec to attack SKC’s backline.
The visitors found a lifeline through Stephen Afrifa in the 66th minute. The Galaxy then responded in the 75th minute with a goal from substitute Joseph Paintsil, making his first appearance following a hamstring injury. Pec recorded his second assist of the night in the build-up to that goal.
The Galaxy wasn’t going to have smooth sailing all day to the finish line. The G’s conceded another set-piece goal – their 10th of the season- in the 82nd minute. SKC was looking for a game-tying goal but LA made sure to close the game out in stoppage time. Pec once again being a threat on the wings, played a great ball across the box for substitute Miguel Berry to tap for the fourth goal of the game.
“If we could get the ball into those spaces fast enough, our transition game could come to life a little bit more. I think with one of the few times that we've played without Riqui (Puig), the group was very smart about how we dealt with the game, how we built speed in the attacks and how we find guys in good positions.”
- Greg Vanney
The return of one-two punch
Pec had undoubtedly his best performance in an LA Galaxy shirt. The Brazilian winger was involved in every goal tonight whether it was him scoring or involved in the build-up to his teammate’s goals. His flair and rapid directness were on full display for the crowd of over 22,000 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Pec finished the game with a goal scored, two assists, 43 of 46 passes completed (93.5%), nine duels won, and a game-high four successful dribbles.
“He was fantastic on the night. He was just a super handful, whether it was on the right or left,” said Vanney postgame. “He was just so hard to deal with for them, and created a lot of different looks for us.”
The return of Paintsil also saw the Galaxy add more cooks in the kitchen - ones that work well together and elevate each other. With two pacey wingers on the flanks, SKC had no other choice but to do their best to defend against both players running at full speed.
Paintsil had multiple opportunities to score but his chance came with Pec streaking down the other side to have the Ghanaian winger tap the ball into the net. It’s been four weeks since he last played but the chemistry was still there from his last appearance.
“coming back, it's the same team and the same feeling. So me being back on the field is really like something really that I was really expecting,” said Paintsil.
“I felt really blessed and happy playing my first home game after a long and having a goal in front of the supporters is really amazing for me, and I feel really happy."
The home fortress
The LA Galaxy remains unbeaten at home with a record of 4-0-4 - a key stat that shows Dignity Health Sports Park becoming a fortress. The match atmosphere is the complete opposite of what it was like during the supporter boycott last season. The stadium coming to life is exactly what’s needed for LA to punish its opposition.
“That's the key part; Making sure that when we come home, we make it hard for teams, and we are doing that,” said Midfielder Diego Fagundez.
“We showed how good we are; that we can score goals; that we can fight till the end, and today, everybody did a good job. We are all happy”.
The Galaxy does need to work on not giving their opponents a way back into the back into the game. SKC worked hard to get back into the match and could’ve had more if they recorded more shots targets challenged goalkeeper John McCarthy.
“That's our main thing. If we can punish someone, and then not give some sloppy balls away, like I said, I'm very frustrated about that. It's not like myself to do that, and like I said, if you give that to a team, they are going to take it any day, and they did today."
What’s important is that the Galaxy managed to get all three points against a team they are supposed to beat. All eyes will focus on LA’s Wednesday night match against NYCFC - one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.