The LA Galaxy fought back to earn a 2-2 draw on the road in front of 29,130 fans at BMO Field on Wednesday night. Douglas Costa and Riqui Puig tallied goals in the draw for the Galaxy as the club extended its unbeaten run to four matches.
Galaxy Run Of Form
In their last four matches played dating back to Aug. 13, the Galaxy hold a record of 2-0-2, outscoring the opposition 12-8 during that span. After scoring one first-half goal in six games played from July 8 – Aug. 6, LA has scored nine first-half goals during its four-game unbeaten run.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Douglas Costa, 24th minute: From about 25 yards away from goal, Douglas Costa’s left-footed, free-kick attempt was curled into the top right corner of the goal.
TOR– Jesus Jimenez (Ifunanyachi Achara, Michael Bradley), 62nd minute: Jesus Jimenez received the ball at the center of the penalty area and slid his shot into the lower far corner of the net.
TOR– Federico Bernardeschi (Penalty Kick), 81st minute: After Toronto was awarded a penalty, Federico Bernardeschi’s shot from the spot was fired into the top right corner of the goal.
LA – Riqui Puig, 89th minute: Cutting in from the left wing, Puig received the ball from 30 yards away from goal, took a touch and laced his shot into the top right corner.
Postgame Notes
Wednesday’s match marked the 19th all-time regular-season meeting between the two sides, with the Galaxy leading the series 7-5-7.
The draw marked the Galaxy’s first result on the road at Toronto since a 2-2 draw on March 30, 2013.
The Galaxy improved to 5-1-2 in eight matches played against Eastern Conference opponents this year, holding a 2-0-2 record played on the road in those matches.
When scoring the first goal in a match, the Galaxy improved to 10-1-3 during the 2022 campaign.
LA improved to 7-0-2 when leading the opposition entering halftime.
The Galaxy extended their unbeaten run to three matches (2-0-2) dating back to Aug. 13, outscoring the opposition 12-8 during that span.
LA is 2-1-2 in five matches played during the month of August this season.
Riqui Puig recorded his first career MLS goal for the Galaxy in his second start of the 2022 campaign.
Puig led the Galaxy with seven possessions won and led the team with 70 completed passes (90% pass accuracy).
Douglas Costa ranks tied for the MLS lead in direct free-kick goals scored (2) and ranks tied for second in the league in goals scored from outside the box (3).
Costa is the second LA Galaxy player in the last 10 seasons to score multiple direct free-kick goals in a single MLS season (Romain Alessandrini in 2017).
Gastón Brugman finished the match with 66 completed passes (96% pass accuracy).
Víctor Vázquez appeared in his 100th career MLS match in the draw against Toronto.
HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY
MIDFIELDER RIQUI PUIG
MIDFIELDER VÍCTOR VÁZQUEZ
Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Julián Araujo, D Séga Coulibaly, D Derrick Williams, D Chase Gasper (Raheem Edwards, 68); M Víctor Vázquez (Dejan Joveljić, 84), M Gastón Brugman, M Riqui Puig, M Samuel Grandsir (Kévin Cabral, 68), M Douglas Costa (Efraín Álvarez, 67), F Javier “Chicharito” Hernández © (Sacha Kljestan, 90+2)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Nick DePuy, D Kelvin Leerdam; M Daniel Aguirre
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Five players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Douglas Costa, 2); FOULS: 13 (Samuel Grandsir, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0
TOR: GK Alex Bono; D Lukas MacNaughton (Shane O’Neill, 65), D Richie Laryea, D Chris Mavinga, D Domenico Criscito; M Michael Bradley ©, M Federico Bernardeschi, M Kosi Thompson (Noble Okello, 62); F Jayden Nelson (Ifunanyachi Achara, 61), F Lorenzo Insigne, F Ayo Akinola (Jesus Jimenez, 61)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Quentin Westberg; D Kadin Chung, D Doneil Henry, D Luca Petrasso; F Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Lorenzo Insigne, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Federico Bernardeschi, Jesus Jimenez, 1); FOULS: 7 (Ayo Akinola, 2); OFFSIDES:2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistant Referees: Kevin Klinger, Ian McKay
Fourth Official: Greg Dopka
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 76 degrees
Attendance: 29,130
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Next Game
Up next, the LA Galaxy play host to Sporting Kansas City at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, Sept. 4. The match on Sept. 4 kicks off at 5:00 p.m. PT and features a national television broadcast on UniMás and TUDN.
