Player Ratings: LA Galaxy advance to Leagues Cup Semifinals with 2-1 win over Pachuca

The LA Galaxy shows out in Leagues Cup again.

The Socal club beat C.F. Pachuca 2-1 on Wednesday night to book its spot in semifinal of the tournament. The Galaxy can earn a spot in next seasons Concacaf Champions Cup if it finishes in the top three places of the competition.

An own goal from Alonso Aceves put LA on top in the 27th minute. A quick corner kick routine forced Aceves into emergency defense mode which lead to him deflecting ball into his own net.

The G’s would strike again 10 minutes later in transition. Marco Reus would score and finish off the chance to double the lead in front of the home crowd. Pachuca scored late in second half stoppage time and didn’t have enough time to find another.

The Galaxy will play the Seattle Sounders in the semifinal round on Wednesday, August. 27 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The journey to potentially lifting another trophy continues for the Galaxy.

Here are the player ratings for LA’s third match of the competition. Substitutes with 20 minutes played or more will be given a rating.

N. Micovic 3.5/5

The Serbian keeper had a handful of quality saves in the match and continued his steady Leagues Cup form on Wednesday night. He was more aggressive in claiming the ball from crosses and wasn’t afraid of contact with the opponents. 

There wasn’t much he could do about the late goal conceded, but he did his part for most of the game when called upon. His performances in the tournament have been good confidence builders for the Serbian. 

J. Aude 3/5

It was another game where Aude was fine. Not many game-changing moments, but he wasn’t a liability on the pitch either. He continues to do a good job at being a good system player and following Vanney’s instructions. He’s holding his own on the defensive end and can pull out a move to create a moment for himself in possession. 

Zanka 3.5/5

Another decent outing for Zanka in the tournament. He was calm on the ball and led the team with eight clearances on the night. Leagues Cup has shown the best of Zanka and that form his key to LA getting something out of this tournament.

E. Garces 4.5/5

The return of the Colombian was a massive boost for the LA Galaxy. The athleticism and aggressiveness of Garces helped LA’s backline add an extra dimension defensively. He was the top player of the game as he put out a lot of fires on the night. 

Garces recorded two clearances, three interceptions, and nine recoveries in his return to action. The Galaxy looks much better with his competitive spirit and willingness to defend with everything. 

M. Cuevas 3.5/5 

It was a solid outing for Cuevas despite not having the same impact as his previous games in the tournament. He was a solid option in possession and played some crosses that were threatening, but he wasn’t able to connect in the box. Pachuca found ways to attack him defensively, but weren’t able to convert that into genuine danger. A good outing for the 22-year-old who’s had the best moments of his Galaxy career in Leagues Cup

E. Cerrillo 3/5

With tension building between both teams, it was Cerrillo who left the match at halftime to avoid getting his second yellow card of the game. He was solid on the ball and looked so much more comfortable in his defensive midfield role.

D. Fagundez 3.5/5

Fagundez played a steady role in possession, linking with teammates and helping facilitate set-piece opportunities. His early ball over the top to Cuevas led directly to a chance for Cerrillo, and he combined with Reus on the short corner routine that produced LA’s opening goal. 

Defensively, he tracked back and provided support when needed, though he didn’t stand out in the final third. A serviceable outing, but not one where he stamped his authority on the match.

M. Reus 4/5

Reus was again central to LA’s attacking rhythm, providing quality delivery and composure in key moments. He played a big part in the build-up to the own goal and fed dangerous crosses throughout the night, despite taking quite the dealing from Los Tuzos’ defenders.

His best moment came in the 37th minute, finding himself just at the right spot for a deflected pass from Nacimiento and putting it in the back of the net, showcasing his ability to finish moves. 

J. Paintsil 3/5

In a tournament where Paintsil has begun to regain his form, tonight he came back down to earth. He showed flashes in transition at times, creating LA’s second goal by driving into space and linking with Nascimento before Reus finished the move, but that was the most he showed on the night. 

Paintsil struggled to exploit Pachuca’s defense with his pace and his finishing just wasn’t there, evident in his run to open the second half that was skied over the goal. A decent night for the Ghanaian, but a far cry from what we’ve seen out of him. 

G. Pec 3.5/5

Pec set the tone in the opening minutes with his trademark pace, creating two dangerous chances in quick succession, one to Nascimento and one to Reus. He remained a constant outlet on the right side, keeping Pachuca’s defense on the back foot. 

While his impact dipped somewhat after the break compared to his electric start, Pec’s early influence helped LA establish control. A strong first-half showing that contributed to the attacking momentum.

M. Nascimento 3.5/5

The Brazilian was active throughout, working hard off the ball and finding useful positions in the attack. He was the catalyst to the second goal, making a clever cutback into a deflected pass that luckily fell right at Reus. He won’t be credited with an assist there, but he might as well count it.

However, his touch let him down at times, particularly on Pec’s early delivery, and he committed a few fouls that broke up play. A mixed night but with flashes of promise.

Subs

I. Parente 3/5

The 25-year-old added a good level of control in the second half in the Galaxy midfield. Having come on the pitch for Cerrillo, he acted similar duties to him and was a doing a good job to recycling possession and keeping the ball flowing. He continues to be a steady option off the bench for Vanney this season.

L. Sanabria 3/5

In his limited playing time, Sanabria looked more involved and confident when the Galaxy had the ball. His improvements need to be in his off-the-ball movements and understanding of the patterns of play. He’ll always be a motor on the defensive side but he needs to find ways to be more involved possession.