LA Galaxy battle Sporting Kansas City to 2-2 draw

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.

 

LA Galaxy earn 2-2 road draw against Toronto FC

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.

LA Galaxy earn 2-1 road win over New England Revolution

The LA Galaxy extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 2-1 win on the road over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.

Chicharito In Form
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández tallied a goal for a fourth consecutive match dating back to Aug. 6, registering five goals and two assists during that span. Chicharito moved into sole possession of ninth place on the Galaxy’s all-time goalscoring list with his 31st career goal in league play, breaking a tie with Eduardo Hurtado (30 goals). Additionally, it marked the third time in his Galaxy career that Chicharito has tallied one goal and one assist in a single match. Notably, Chicharito recorded his 199th career goal in his 529th game played in club competition.  

MLS Firsts

In his first MLS start, Riqui Puig tallied his first career game-winning assist in 90 minutes of action in the win over New England. Puig finished the match with a team-high nine possessions won and three successful dribbles. Daniel Aguirre scored his first career MLS goal for the Galaxy in 90 minutes played.

Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Daniel Aguirre (Chicharito), 4th minute: Chicharito picked up the ball in his own half, spun off his marker and delivered a weighted pass behind the Revolution defense. Daniel Aguirre latched onto the pass and his low shot from the right side of the box was fired into the far corner of the net.

LA – Chicharito (Riqui Puig), 15th minute: Riqui Puig’s through ball from the center of the field released Chicharito behind the New England backline. Chicharito took a touch before rolling his shot from the center of the penalty area into the far corner of the goal.

NE – Carles Gil (Tommy McNamara), 82nd minute: Carles Gil’s left-footed shot was curled into the top right corner of the goal.

Postgame Notes

  • Following the win over New England, the LA Galaxy (11-11-4, 37 points) moved up to seventh place in the Western Conference standings, six points behind fourth-place FC Dallas (11-8-10, 43 points) with three games in hand.

  • Sunday’s match marked the 48th all-time meeting across all competitions between LA and New England, with the Galaxy leading the series 24-17-7. 

  • In 22 matches played on the road in league play against the Revolution, LA improved to a  8-11-3 record.

  • The Galaxy improved to 5-1-1 in six matches played against Eastern Conference opponents this year, holding a 2-0-1 record played on the road in those matches. 

  • When scoring the first goal in a match, the Galaxy improved to 10-1-2 during the 2022 campaign.

  • LA improved to 7-0-1 when leading the opposition entering halftime.

  • The Galaxy extended their unbeaten run to three matches (2-0-1) dating back to Aug. 13, outscoring the opposition 10-6 during that span. 

  • The win over New England marked the Galaxy’s first road win dating back to May 29.

  • The Galaxy are 2-1-1 in four matches played during the month of August this season.

  • LA won its first road match in league play dating back to a 1-0 win over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on May 8.

  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernández notched a goal for a fourth consecutive game dating back to Aug. 6, tallying five goals and two assists during that span. 

  • Chicharito moved into sole possession of ninth place on the Galaxy’s all-time goalscoring list with his 31st career regular-season goal for the club, breaking a tie with Eduardo Hurtado (30). 

  • It marked the third time in his Galaxy career that Chicharito has tallied one goal and one assist in a single match.

  • Chicharito recorded his 199th career goal in his 529th game played in club competition.  

  • In his first career start for the Galaxy, Riqui Puig tallied the game-winning assist, his first in MLS, in 90 minutes of action against New England. 

  • Daniel Aguirre recorded his first career MLS goal in 90 minutes played in the win over the Revolution.

  • Jonathan Bond tallied seven saves in the win over the Revolution. Bond’s 190 career saves ranks fourth all-time in Galaxy regular-season history. 

  • Gastón Brugman led LA with four tackles won.

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY

LA GALAXY FORWARD JAVIER “CHICHARITO” HERNÁNDEZ

Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Julián Araujo, D Séga Coulibaly (Sacha Kljestan, 60), D Nick DePuy, D Derrick Williams, D Chase Gasper; M Gastón Brugman (Efraín Álvarez, 65), M Riqui Puig, M Daniel Aguirre; F Kévin Cabral (Samuel Grandsir, 65), F Javier “Chicharito” Hernández © (Dejan Joveljić, 70)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Kelvin Leerdam, D Eriq Zavaleta; M Douglas Costa, M Víctor Vázquez

TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Samuel Grandsir, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Samuel Grandsir, 2); FOULS: 13 (Gastón Brugman, 3); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 7

NE: GK Djordje Petrovic; D Andrew Farrell, D Henry Kessler, D Christian Makoun (Esmir Bajraktarevic, 82), D Matthew Polster, D Brandon Bye, D DeJuan Jones; M Carles Gil ©, M Emmanuel Boateng (Noel Buck, 65), M Thomas McNamara, F Justin Rennicks (Gustavo Bou, 46)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr.; D Omar Gonzalez, D Jonathan Bell, D A.J. DeLaGarza, M Lucas Maciel, M Damian Rivera

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Carles Gil, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Emanuel Boateng, 2); FOULS: 10 (Andrew Farrell, 3); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3

Referee: Rubiel Vazquez

Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Matthew Nelson

Fourth Official: Ricardo Fierro

VAR: Armando Villarreal
Weather: Clear, 70 degrees
Attendance: 21,517

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Next Game
Up next, the LA Galaxy travel to face Toronto FC at BMO Field on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The match on Aug. 31 kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT and features a regional television broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet and a live stream on LAGalaxy.com

LA Galaxy draw against Seattle Sounders FC 3-3

Down 3-2 in stoppage-time, the LA Galaxy battled back to earn a 3-3 draw against Seattle Sounders FC before 23,278 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday night. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández notched a goal for a third consecutive game, while Víctor Vázquez recorded a goal for a second consecutive match in the draw against Seattle. 

LA Galaxy Players In Form


Chicharito tallied a goal for a third consecutive match dating back to Aug. 6, registering four goals and one assist during that span. With a goal in the draw against Seattle, Dejan Joveljić has tallied at least one goal or one assist in eight consecutive matches played at home (9 goals, 3 assists) dating back to May 29. During that stretch, Joveljić has tallied six goals and three assists as a substitute. Vázquez has registered two goals and one assist in his last four appearances dating back to July 24. 

Debut For Riqui Puig

Riqui Puig, who joined the LA Galaxy from FC Barcelona on Aug. 4, played 28 minutes off the bench in his MLS and Galaxy debut in the draw against Seattle. Puig completed 25 of 26 passes (96% pass accuracy), while adding one chance created. 

ACB

# Klien Out & Jovan Out flying above the stadium ahead of the match.

Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Chicharito (Kévin Cabral, Julián Araujo), 10th minute: Working down the right flank, Cabral delivered a cross into the box to Chicharito, who controlled the ball and took a touch past a Seattle defender inside the penalty area, before firing his right-footed shot into the lower corner of the goal. 

LA – Víctor Vázquez (Mark Delgado), 42nd minute: Vázquez received the ball out on the right wing and fired a curling shot off the far post and into the back of the net.

SEA – Kelyn Rowe (Raul Ruidiaz, Alex Roldan), 53rd minute: Raul Ruidiaz dribbled down the right side of the penalty area and cut a pass to the top of the box to Kelyn Rowe, whose first-timed was curled into the top right corner of the goal. 

SEA – Raul Ruidiaz (Nicolas Lodeiro, Nouhou Tolo), 61st minute: Nicolas Lodeiro’s cross into the box found Raul Ruidiaz, whose strong header was redirected into the upper corner of the net.


SEA – Jordan Morris, 73rd minute: After Jonathan Bond made a save from point-blank-range on a headed attempt by Yeimar Gomez, Jordan Morris was first to the rebound and tapped in from close range. 

LA – Dejan Joveljić (Penalty Kick), 90+2nd minute: After Seattle was whistled for a handball inside the penalty area, Dejan Joveljić stepped up to the spot and buried his second penalty-kick goal of the 2022 campaign. 

POST GAME COMMENTS

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY

“We we’re up two goals in the first half, but we were still having some issues, just, organizing the defensive side of things so we could be more aggressive. We could dictate where they’re playing more than we did. We could recover balls in better spots. I just felt like we were a little disconnected in our movements.”
— Greg Vanney

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER VÍCTOR VÁZQUEZ

“What I said in the locker room after the game when I talked to the guys, I think it’s about consistency. Honestly it wasn’t the best first half for us. But we scored two goals. We were like, sharp in front of the goal. We really needed that, like we were saying the last couple of weeks. And then we were confident that the game was going in our [favor]. But like I said at the beginning, we started the second half a little casual again. We didn’t show that we wanted to score the third goal.”
— VÍCTOR VÁZQUEZ

LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER JONATHAN BOND

“everybody is a little bit disappointed in there. It’s kind of mixed feelings, because it could have been a lot worse. But, we’re disappointed to give the two up lead away. It’s one of those things, you know, we keep Seattle behind us. We get a point. So, we do take a small step forward, and we get to learn from some of the things that happened kind of thing. It’s not like we’re learning in a scenario where we’re getting booed off the pitch. And we’ve got to regroup and find something again. So, it’s really mixed emotions, to be honest.”
— JONATHAN BOND

Postgame Notes

  • Following the draw against Seattle, the LA Galaxy (10-11-4, 34 points) stayed in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, four points behind fourth-place Minnesota United FC (11-9-5, 38 points).

  • Friday’s match marked the 45th all-time meeting across all competitions between the Galaxy and Sounders FC, with LA trailing the series 15-17-13.

  • In 18 all-time matches played at home against Seattle in league play, LA holds a 6-5-7 record.

  • When scoring the first goal in a match, the Galaxy improved to 9-1-2 during the 2022 campaign.

  • The Galaxy have converted six of eight penalty-kick attempts (75during the 2022 campaign

  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernández notched a goal for a third consecutive game dating back to Aug. 6, tallying four goals and one assist during that span.

  • Chicharito moved into a tie with Eduardo Hurtado for ninth place in Galaxy history with 30 goals scored in MLS regular-season play.

  • With a goal in the draw against Seattle, Dejan Joveljić has tallied at least one goal or one assist in eight consecutive matches played at home (9 goals, 3 assists) dating back to May 29. During that stretch, Joveljić has tallied six goals and three assists as a substitute.

  • Chicharito has tallied a goal in three straight MLS matches against the Sounders.

  • Joveljić’s seven goals scored as a substitute leads all MLS players in that category.

  • Víctor Vázquez tallied a goal in his 99th career MLS appearance in the draw against Seattle. Vázquez has registered two goals and one assist in his last four appearances dating back to July 24.

  • Julián Araujo has tallied three assists in his last two appearances dating back to Aug. 13.

  • Gastón Brugman notched a game-high 13 possessions won in the draw against Seattle.

  • Kévin Cabral registered an assist for a second consecutive match for the Galaxy.

Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Julián Araujo, D Séga Coulibaly, D Nick DePuy, D Raheem Edwards; M Gastón Brugman, M Mark Delgado, M Kévin Cabral (Douglas Costa, 62), M Víctor Vázquez (Riqui Puig, 62), M Samuel Grandsir (Eriq Zavaleta, 71), F Javier “Chicharito” Hernández © (Dejan Joveljić, 70)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Chase Gasper, D Kelvin Leerdam; M Efraín Álvarez, M Sacha Kljestan

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Chicharito, 2); FOULS: 10 (Samuel Grandsir, Víctor Vázquez, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2

SEA: GK Stefan Frei; D Xavier Arreaga, D Nouhou, D Yeimar; M Nicolas Lodeiro © (Josh Atencio, 83), M Albert Rusnak, M Alex Roldan, M Kelyn Rowe (Jimmy Medranda, 78), M Danny Leyva; F Raul Ruidiaz (Jackson Ragen, 83), F Jordan Morris (Will Bruin, 86)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Stefan Cleveland; M Leo Chu, M Ethan Dobbelaere, M Dylan Teves, F Fredy Montero

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Raul Ruidiaz, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Raul Ruidiaz, 2); FOULS: 12 (Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou Tolo, 2); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1

Referee: Victor Rivas

Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Greeson, Cameron Blanchard

Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Weather: Clear, 72 degrees
Attendance: 23,278

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

Next Game
Up next, the LA Galaxy travel to face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 28. The Aug. 28 match kicks off at 5:00 p.m. PT

LA Galaxy Introductory Press Conference with Midfielder Riqui Puig and Head Coach Greg Vanney

The LA Galaxy acquired Riqui Puig using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) via transfer from La Liga side FC Barcelona on Aug. 4, signing the Spanish midfielder to a three-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season. Puig, 23, tallied two goals and three assists in 57 appearances (15 starts) across all competitions with FC Barcelona (2018-22). Puig notched one goal in 15 games played (2 starts) for Barcelona during the 2021-22 La Liga campaign. Puig will be available for selection for Friday’s match against Seattle Sounders FC after receiving his P1 Visa.

Friday’s match marks the 45th all-time meeting across all competitions between the Galaxy and Sounders FC, with LA trailing the series 15-17-12. In 17 regular season matches played at home against Seattle, the Galaxy hold a 6-5-6 record. LA will be looking for their first win over the Sounders dating back to a 3-0 win at home on Sept. 23, 2018. In the first meeting between the two teams during the 2022 campaign, the Galaxy fell 3-2 on the road to Seattle on March 12.