Player Ratings: LA Galaxy beat Orlando City 2-1 to clinch Concacaf Champions Cup in 2026
Who stood out during LA's most important game of the 2025 season.
The LA Galaxy is returning to continental soccer in 2026.
The LA Galaxy books its spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup following a 2-1 win in the Leagues Cup Third-Place match over Orlando City SC. This moment will be the lone bright spot in what’s been a forgettable campaign for the G’s
Marco Reus opened the scoring in the ninth minute of the match to cap off a good spell of possession. Orlando made it difficult in the second half with Martin Ojeda’s goal in the 60th minute.
But the winning goal came from Joseph Paintsil, who was recently called up for the Ghanaian National Team, in the 67th minute. LA closed out the game and clinched a spot for next season’s regional tournament. Here are the player ratings for the team in the most important game of the season.
N. Micovic 2.5/5
Not a game where Micovic was busy, in fact, he got lucky a couple of times as the Lions hit the woodwork a couple of times. His distribution was inconsistent in the afternoon, but he wasn’t a real liability for the Galaxy in this game. He had a quality tournament as he cemented himself as LA’s starter.
J. Nelson 3/5
His work rate and defensive mindset were on full display during this match. He’s not going to contribute much to the offensive end, but he works his tail off to get in the right positions on the backline. He did end up with the assist for the game-winning goal for the Galaxy. It was a quality John Nelson performance on Sunday afternoon.
E. Garces 3/5
Despite playing just the first half, the return of Garces was noticeable. He made his usual recovery runs and added an extra dimension to the backline with Yoshida. He was injured towards the end of the first half and was subbed out at halftime.
M. Yoshida 3/5
The last few weeks have seen Yoshida’s regression be more noticeable. His reactions are slowing, and his positioning at times is not ideal. He’ll have his defensive moments here and there despite the visible regression. Nonetheless, he was yelling instructions and still being a presence for the backline as they closed out the win. That experience is valuable in games like this.
M. Yamane 3/5
The Galaxy is a much better possession team with Yamane on the pitch. His chemistry with Pec on the right side allows LA to play better in tight spaces and move the ball in the final third. He should’ve had a goal to seal the game late, but Pedro Gallese made a quality save to keep Orlando in the match. Solid game from the Japanese international in this crucial game of the season.
E. Cerrillo 3.5/5
It was a slow start for Cerrillo but his impact in the match grew as time went on. He had a couple of giveaways in the first half but went back to his secure self. He also played his role on the defensive end as he tracked a lot of ground and won the ball back on various occasions. He led the team with five tackles won and 44/47 passes completed in his 90-minute shift.
E. Wynder 3/5
The 22-year-old has taken a noticeable leap in his all-around play compared to the start of the year. LA was able to be more fluid in the midfield because Wynder was comfortable playing in tight spaces and knew where to position himself. His impact on the match did wear off as the game progressed in the second half.
D. Fagundez 3/5
Fagundez’s influence came in flashes. His best moment was a sharp layoff in the 25th minute that sprung Paintsil for an early cross, nearly setting up Pec. He also tracked back to cover defensively when Nelson was caught upfield, though it was a shaky sequence. Taken off in the 81st minute and clearly frustrated with the decision, his effort was there, but the end product was limited.
G. Pec 4/5
The Brazilian was lively all night and central to both Galaxy goals. His clever footwork and square ball created the opener for Reus, and later his dazzling dribble through multiple defenders set the stage for Paintsil’s strike. Constantly fouled and targeted, Pec still drove play forward and forced Orlando into mistakes. Easily one of the most dangerous players on the pitch.
J. Paintsil 3.5/5
It was another rollercoaster of a game for the Ghanaian. His pace was a constant outlet, especially when he linked with Fagundez in transition. He nearly struck in the first half but had to wait until the 67th minute, when he capitalized on a chaotic sequence around the box to score the winner for LA. At times wasteful in front of the goal, but his energy and eventual finish proved decisive.
M. Reus 3.5/5
Reus opened the scoring with a composed finish in the ninth minute, showing his class in front of goal. Beyond that, his influence was less pronounced, and his night ended early after going down injured in the 56th minute. While he delivered when it mattered, his shortened appearance kept him from building further impact.
Sub Notes:
C.Rindov 3.5/5
He was a key contributor for the Galaxy with six clearances in his 45 minutes of action on the pitch. He didn’t put a foot wrong and looked like he belonged in this key game for the Galaxy. Vanney praised him postgame for being very disciplined at his position.
J. Aude 3/5
The young Argentine was exhausted at the final whistle. He made multiple recovery runs and put his body on the line defending in the box. The main blemish for him was when he didn’t take the ball to the corner in the dying moments of the game, and it led to Orlando having one last chance to find the tying goal. You have to applaud him for putting in a lot of effort to help the squad
L. Sanabria 2.5 /5
A lot of running for Sanabria, but not too much impact on both sides of the ball. With the game state, the Uruguayan wasn’t going to be a game-changer.
M. Berry 2.5/5
With Reus and Fagundez subbed out, Berry was going to be the striker to close out this game. One of his best traits is his work rate to run at the backline but also press his opponents of the ball. He should’ve had a shot on goal late in the match, but couldn’t get the shot off. A decent outing as a substitute, but he’s not really showing much starting quality.