Dejan Joveljic scores late in the first half, Diego Fagúndez scores early in the second on an assist from Joveljic, and the Galaxy remains unbeaten at home with a 2-0 win.
CARSON — The Galaxy was missing two starters, one key reserve and had five defenders on the substitution bench for Wednesday’s meeting against New York City FC.
However, thanks to a goal in each half, things ended up alright for the Galaxy (9-3-7, 34 points) with a 2-0 win in front of 20,043 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“You saw what kind of team we can be,” Diego Fagundez said. “It was nice to keep the clean sheet. It was nice for our defenders and goalkeeper and at the end the of the night, everybody put in a shift.”
The win moves the Galaxy into a second-place tie (on points) in the Western Conference with rival LAFC. Both teams are three points behind leader Real Salt Lake (10-2-7, 37 points). The win is the Galaxy’s fourth in its last five games and keeps the team unbeaten at home this season.
“I thought the group competed over 90 minutes, stayed connected to each other, went through their rotation the right way, tried to make things as clean and predictable as possible and because of that, I thought we had a clean night,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.
Gaston Brugman (knee), Riqui Puig (groin) and Jonathan Perez (hamstring) were all out for the Galaxy. Vanney said Puig is questionable for Saturday, while Perez is expected to be out a bit longer with a grade 1 strain.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 41st minute from Dejan Joveljic. The goal was his 11th of the season, tying his output in MLS competition, set during his second year in 2022. He finished that season with 15 goals across all competitions.
In the 49th minute, the Galaxy took a 2-0 lead as Fagundez put the finishing touches on a perfect counterattack that started deep in the Galaxy’s defensive end.
Last Saturday, the Galaxy had two-goal leads on multiple occasions, but allowed Sporting Kansas City to stay in the game.
“I think we go on cruise control and the game could end 2-0, 3-0 or even more,” Fagundez said last Saturday. “But when you give a team a little bit of life, they fight and they fight till the end. I think that’s our main thing. If we can punish someone and then not give some sloppy balls away … if you give that to a team, they are going to take it any day.”
Right on cue, this around, after falling behind 2-0, New York started to apply pressure to the Galaxy. John McCarthy made a sprawling save in the 58th minute.
“Teams are going to get chances,” McCarthy said. “Tonight, fortunately they didn’t put any in. I think it was a good all-around performance.”
The Galaxy and all of the crowd in attendance thought it had a chance to add to the lead in the 65th minute. Joseph Paintsil went down in the penalty area, after New York defender Tayvon Gray draped on his back and appeared to throw him down. However, referee Rubiel Vazquez didn’t see it as a foul and play continued.
Later, Gabriel Pec had a pair of opportunities for the knockout goal. One shot hit the post and the other New York goalkeeper Matt Freese came up with the save.
The shutout win was the second this season for the Galaxy.
This was the first meeting between the teams since Feb. 27, 2022 – a Galaxy 1-0 win – and only the seventh meeting all-time between the teams.
The Galaxy’s busy week continues Saturday with a road game against Real Salt Lake. Their first meeting ended in a 2-2 tie on May 11 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The game gives the Galaxy a second opportunity for a three-game winning streak, something it has never accomplished under Vanney.
