Playing their third match in the span of seven days, the LA Galaxy earned a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids in front of 20,325 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Gastón Brugman tallied a brace, while Riqui Puig notched three assists in the Galaxy’s first win over the Rapids since 2017.
LA Galaxy Run Of Form
In their last eight matches played dating back to Aug. 13, the Galaxy hold a record of 3-1-4, outscoring the opposition 19-15 during that span. In the Galaxy’s last five matches played at home dating back to July 24, LA holds an unbeaten record of 3-0-2. Following the win over Colorado, the Galaxy (12-12-7, 43 points) moved up to seventh place in the Western Conference standings, with a game in hand and two points behind sixth-place Portland Timbers (11-8-12, 45 points).
Riqui Puig Contributions
In his first five starts with the Galaxy dating back to Aug. 28, Riqui Puig has tallied two goals and five assists. Notably, Puig’s three assists against Colorado were the first time a Galaxy player recorded three assists in a match since Landon Donovan did it in September of 2014. Since Aug. 28, Puig leads MLS in assists (5) and passes completed (421), and ranks second behind only Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar (7 goals, 2 assists) in goal contributions (2 goals, 5 assists) during that span.
LA Galaxy Firsts
Brugman recorded his first two goals as a member of the Galaxy in the win over Colorado. Additionally, Martín Cáceres registered his first assist with LA in the win over the Rapids. Notably, Raheem Edwards, who tallied his first career goal for the Galaxy, recorded his first goal in league play since scoring for Chicago Fire FC on March 16, 2019.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Gastón Brugman (Samuel Grandsir, Riqui Puig), 22nd minute: Samuel Grandsir delivered an outside the boot pass behind the Colorado defense that released Gastón Brugman down the right side of the penalty area. Brugman took a touch before sending his low shot past Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough.
LA – Raheem Edwards (Martín Cáceres), 28th minute: Raheem Edwards dribbled down the right flank and cut inside on his right foot. Edwards faked a shot inside the penalty area before rifling his right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net.
LA – Chicharito (Julián Araujo, Riqui Puig), 31st minute: In transition, Riqui Puig switched the field of play to Julián Araujo down the right flank. Araujo dribbled toward the end line and fired a low cross to Chicharito, whose back-heeled shot beat Yarbrough.
LA – Gastón Brugman (Riqui Puig), 52nd minute: Gastón Brugman received the ball from Riqui Puig, dribbled toward the top of the 18-yard box and curled his shot into the top right corner.
COL – Sam Nicholson, 90+1st minute: The ball fell to Sam Nicholson inside the box and his half-volleyed shot from just outside the six-yard box found the lower far corner of the goal.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Postgame Notes
Saturday’s match marked the 91st all-time meeting across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 46-33-12.
LA improved to 25-10-6 in 41 all-time regular-season matches played at home against Colorado.
Following the win over Colorado, the Galaxy (12-12-7, 43 points) moved up to seventh place in the Western Conference standings, with a game in hand and two points behind sixth-place Portland Timbers (11-8-12, 45 points).
The Galaxy improved to 10-6-3 in 19 matches played at home across all competitions this season.
LA improved to 11-1-4 this season when scoring the first goal of the match.
In their last eight matches played dating back to Aug. 13, the Galaxy hold a record of 3-1-4, outscoring the opposition 19-15 during that span.
In the Galaxy’s last five matches played at home dating back to July 24, LA holds an unbeaten record of 3-0-2.
The victory marked LA’s first win over the Rapids since a 3-0 win over Colorado on Sept. 2, 2017.
This marks the fourth time this season the Galaxy have scored four goals or more in a match this season.
Gastón Brugman recorded his first career goals for the Galaxy with his brace against the Rapids.
Riqui Puig tallied three assists in the win against the Rapids. Puig’s three assists against Colorado were the first time a Galaxy player recorded three assists in a match since Landon Donovan did it in September of 2014
Chicharito registered his 15th goal in league play for the Galaxy this year.
In his last nine MLS regular-season matches played dating back to Aug. 6, only Hany Mukhtar has tallied more goals (11) than Chicharito (8).
Chicharito moved into a tie for eighth place with Gyasi Zardes on the Galaxy’s all-time regular-season goal-scoring list.
Raheem Edwards tallied his first goal in league play since scoring for Chicago Fire FC against Seattle Sounders FC on March 16, 2019.
Julián Araujo tallied his eighth assist of the season, a new career-high, in the win over Colorado.
Samuel Grandsir notched his fourth assist of the 2022 campaign.
Martín Cáceres registered his first assist with LA in the win over the Rapids.
Next Game
Up next, the LA Galaxy travel to face the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24. The match on Sept. 24 kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PT and features a regional television broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet and a stream on LAGalaxy.com.
