Takeaways: Youth and Resilience Fuel LA Galaxy’s 3-0 Victory Over Colorado Rapids
Miller makes history, Marcinkowski's long rehab journey, Wynder shows poise
With the Leagues Cup semifinal on the horizon, Greg Vanney’s LA Galaxy looked a little different but got the job done with a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.
Harbor Miller would open the scoring just seven minutes in. The 18-year-old stayed in the play after he was fouled and advantage was given, eventually landing a crisp pass from Miki Yamane in the box that he would bury for the opener.
Yamane would make it two assists on the night in the 55th minute, as he crossed it into a wide-open Elijah Wynder in the box for his first goal as a G.
Gabriel Pec would put this match to bed in the 77th minute. The Brazilian looked hungry for a goal the moment he set foot on the pitch, with a few near misses. But a through ball from Marco Reus into open space was all he needed to sneak it under the legs of Zack Steffen, icing the game and giving the Galaxy its fourth win of the season.
Even with a rotated squad, the Galaxy never seemed troubled by the Rapids, who have everything to play for as they hold onto the seventh seed in the West for dear life.
A Return to The Backline
Of the many changes to the lineup, the introduction of JT Marcinkowski was significant
LA traded away last season’s starting goalkeeper, John McCarthy, to the New York Red Bulls at the transfer deadline, making Marcinkowski the de facto backup on the team.
Back in 2023, Marcinkowski tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee in a friendly match against Honduran side CD Olimpia as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. Saturday’s match was his first MLS appearance since the 2023 campaign after a long journey to get back in between the sticks.
“It was a long, long process with a lot of ups and downs,” said Marcinkowski to reporters postgame about his rehab.
“Beginning was a lot of downs and a lot of questioning I think my path forward. But I'm super thankful for the people I had around me, my physical therapist, my entire support team, my fiance, my family, honestly, this night is just as much for them as it is for me,” he added.
The 28-year-old keeper faced just one shot on target on the night to help LA record a clean sheet on the night. During his presser, Marcinkowski reflected and added perspective on the physical and mental journey of his rehab.
“It was a daily battle. It's really hard in long-term rehab to think about the end goal and getting back on the field. More often than not I was just trying to get through my rehab of that day. Whatever the exercise was, whatever I tried to accomplish for that particular session. When I look back it kind of -- you build upon each day and the work that I put into it,” he told reporters.
“I think it's all about perspective, gratitude. I think we play a sport we love for a living. It's only right I do my best every day. I think I would be selling myself short and selling the people that have helped me get here short if I didn't try my hardest every single day and make sure I was prepared. I think gratitude for the position I'm in”.
Miller Time
It would take 140 days for Miller to get a taste of MLS soccer again. The 18-year-old defender made appearances earlier this season due to injury absences and impressed in his MLS and Concacaf Champions Cup appearances. The return of Yamane and the emergence of Mauricio Cuevas made it difficult for Miller to get another run of games in MLS.
He’s been a key player for Ventura County FC in MLS Next Pro and has made some appearances on the LA Galaxy bench before Saturday night. But his against Colorado was different than his previous in a Galaxy shirt.
Instead of playing at his usual position of right back, Miller was deputized as a winger. His pace and work rate shined in the attack, and those traits were key to the build-up of his first MLS goal.
“I was like, every single opportunity the ball just went down the field, I just knew I needed to sprint, just in case there was an opportunity, the ball landed on my foot, fortunately Tucker (Lepley) slipped in Miki and then I'm arriving late and the balls just bouncing and it literally just fell right to my right to my feet. And honestly, I sort of like hit the ball and I don't even remember where I hit the back of the net. I just knew it was going in and I kind of just blacked out and just ran into the corner and celebrated like it was one of the best goals of my life,” Miller told reporters.
With his goal, Miller became the 2nd-youngest player in team history to score a goal (Regular Season or Playoffs). He’s etched into a part of LA Galaxy history, now he’s looking to establish more playing time at the MLS level. His head coach also belives in getting him more time in the top flight.
“[Miller] was mature, (made) good decisions, showed a ton of confidence out there. He's ready for this level. This is where he needs to be and continue to play and progress and move his game forward,” said Vannye about Miller.
“He's so comfortable playing on the right side, on the left side. Not necessarily always as a winger, but he needs to be playing at this level. It's on me and us to get him opportunities to utilize the rest of the season to put his floor higher as we go into next year,” he added.
Aside from his offensive contributions, Miller led the team with three successful tackles on the night. He was constantly tracking back and aiding John Nelson on the defensive end during his 65 minutes on the pitch. He showed off his best traits and what he can bring to Vanney’s LA Galaxy.
“His ceiling is very high. It's just about, again, and it may be that somebody won't be playing as much as they want or maybe he is -- we'll find some opportunities for him, but he'll be getting some minutes down the stretch.”
Wynder’s Breakthrough Game
Elijah Wynder’s night wasn’t just about the goal – it was about validation. After months of bouncing between the first team and Ventura County FC, he finally had the platform to prove he belongs, and he took it.
Vanney didn’t hesitate to single him out in his post-match remarks. “Elijah was awesome tonight,” he said. “His field awareness, his feel for time, his relationship with Edwin [Cerrillo] was really good, his power to carry beyond lines and to drive the game forward… he didn’t put a foot wrong.”
Vanney explained that the plan at halftime was for Wynder, as the pivot, to push higher when Colorado pressed. “He took it and he ran with it,” he added, “and was excellent.”
Wynder’s own reflections showed how much the performance meant. “Obviously it meant a lot for me to get the goal and have a good performance,” he said, smiling as he described a night that was “just very enjoyable to be out there.”
When asked to break down his finish, he admitted, “I was just driving in. I was going to shoot it at first, but then I saw Miki [Yamane] was wide open. I didn’t expect him to play it back to me right in my path – I just guided it into the corner.”
What stood out just as much was the maturity Wynder showed in discussing his role. He credited Cerrillo for guiding him through the game and said playing alongside Lucas in the second half was about “just working together.” He also pointed to the wider impact of the night: “I think it puts everybody in a position to be ready and to show that we’re ready when we’re needed.”
For Wynder, this was more than a debut goal – it was a statement that he’s ready for bigger responsibility with the G’s.