Playing their third game in the span of seven days, the LA Galaxy battled Sporting Kansas City to a 2-2 draw in front of 20,104 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday night. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández tallied a brace as the Galaxy extended their unbeaten run to five games.
REPLAY / SOCIAL / PODCAST
Listen in to David, Luis, and Bobby rewind back to recap LA's match against Toronto. Penalties, bad sweeps, and golazo's are covered in that match. Then the guys turn their opinions and frustrations on LA's latest home match against the low seed SKC. Chicharito's bittersweet evening, more penalties, last dying chances, and the most embarrassing panenka seen around the world.
GAME STATISTICS
Galaxy Run Of Form
In their last five matches played dating back to Aug. 13, the Galaxy hold a record of 2-0-3, outscoring the opposition 14-10 during that span. After scoring one first-half goal in six games played from July 8 – Aug. 6, LA has scored 11 first-half goals during its five-game unbeaten run. In his last six games played dating back to Aug. 6, Chicharito has tallied seven goals and two assists. Additionally, Chicharito has scored in three straight games played at Dignity Health Sports Park dating back to Aug. 13.
Chicharito Records 200 Club Goals
With his first-half goal scored against Sporting Kansas City, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández tallied his 200th career goal in club competitions. In 62 games played (53 starts) across all competitions with the Galaxy, Chicharito has tallied 34 goals and five assists.
Julián Araujo Joins 100 Club
Julián Araujo (21 years, 22 days) became the youngest player in LA Galaxy history to appear in 100 matches (89 starts) across all competitions for the club, after logging 85 minutes in the against Sporting KC. In four seasons (2019-Present) with the Galaxy, Araujo has tallied 18 assists and one goal in 100 games played (89 starts) across all competitions.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Chicharito (Víctor Vázquez, Riqui Puig), 4th minute: From just inside his own half, Riqui Puig advanced the ball to Víctor Vázquez in the Galaxy’s attacking third. Vázquez took a touch and slipped a pass in behind the Kansas City backline to Chicharito, whose shot from the right side of the box was powered into the far corner of the goal.
SKC – Johnny Russell (Penalty Kick), 67th minute: After LA was whistled for a handball inside the box, Johnny Russell’s penalty-kick attempt was parried off the post LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond and into the back of the net.
SKC – Felipe Hernandez (William Agada), 76th minute: Cutting in from the left wing, Felipe Hernandez’s shot was deflected off the knee of a Galaxy defender and into the top corner of the goal.
LA – Chicharito (Penalty Kick), 88th minute: After Kévin Cabral was fouled inside the penalty area, Chicharito stepped up to the spot and blasted his shot into the top left corner.
POSTGAME COMMENTS
Postgame Notes
Following the draw against Sporting KC, the LA Galaxy remained in eighth place in the Western Conference standings, three points behind the seventh place Portland Timbers (10-8-12, 42 points) with two games in hand.
Sunday’s match marked the 67th MLS regular-season meeting between the Galaxy and Sporting KC, with the all-time series tied 26-26-16.
In 33 matches played at home in league play against Kansas City, LA holds a 17-8-8 record.
The Galaxy extended their unbeaten run to five matches (2-0-3) dating back to Aug. 13, outscoring the opposition 14-10 during that span.
In 18 games played across all competitions at Dignity Health Sports Park in 2022, LA holds a 9-6-3 record.
In his last six games played dating back to Aug. 6, Chicharito has tallied seven goals and two assists. Additionally, Chicharito has scored in three straight games played at Dignity Health Sports Park dating back to Aug. 13.
With his goal scored in the first half against Sporting KC, Chicharito logged his 200th career goal in club competition. (Manchester United: 59 goals, Bayer Leverkusen: 39, LA Galaxy: 34 goals, Deportivo Guadalajara: 29 goals, West Ham United: 17 goals, CD Tapatio: 11 goals, Real Madrid: 9 goals, Sevilla FC: 3 goals)
The brace marked Chicharito’s seventh career multi-goal game for the LA Galaxy in league play.
In three starts for the Galaxy dating back to Aug. 28, Riqui Puig has tallied one goal and two assists across 270 minutes played.
Puig finished the match with 82 completed passes (95% pass accuracy).
Víctor Vázquez recorded his third assist for the Galaxy in league play this season.
Gastón Brugman finished the match with a team-high seven possessions won and recorded 78 accurate passes (94% pass accuracy).
Uruguayan National Team defender Martín Cáceres made his LA Galaxy debut, logging five minutes as a second-half substitute.
