Head Coach Greg Vanney, Forward Javier Hernández & Midfielder Douglas Costa Comments on the upcoming game as the team prepares for a home match against Orlando City SC on Saturday, March 19
After sustaining their first loss of the season against Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on March 12, the LA Galaxy (2-1-0, 6 points) return home to play host to Eastern Conference side Orlando City SC (1-1-1, 4 points) at Dignity Health Sports Park (12:30 p.m. PT; Univision, TUDN) on Saturday, March 19. Saturday’s match marks the sixth MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Orlando, with the Galaxy leading the series 3-2-0. Notably, LA is unbeaten in two matches played (2-0-0) against Orlando at Dignity Health Sports Park dating back to Sept. 11, 2016. The last time the two teams squared off against one another, the Galaxy earned a 1-0 win over Orlando at Exploria Stadium on May 24, 2019.
LA Galaxy fall 3-2 on the road to Seattle Sounders FC
Sustaining their first loss of the 2022 MLS regular season, the LA Galaxy fell 1-0 on the road to Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Saturday afternoon. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández notched his second goal of the season, while Douglas Costa tallied his first career goal for the Galaxy. Notably, Raheem Edwards registered an assist in his third consecutive match to begin the season in the loss to Seattle.
LA Galaxy Against Seattle Sounders FC
Saturday’s match marked the 34 MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Seattle, with the Galaxy trailing the series 10-12-12. In 17 regular-season matches played in Seattle, LA holds a record of 4-7-6. In his last two appearances against Seattle at Lumen Field, Chicharito has tallied two goals.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (Rayan Raveloson, Raheem Edwards), 6th minute: Edwards cut inside from the left wing and slipped Rayan Raveloson into the penalty box. Raveloson quickly passed the ball to Chicharito, whose shot from the center of the box was fired into the roof of the net.
SEA – Jordan Morris, 17th minute: Following a Seattle corner kick into the box, Jordan Morris’ shot from a scramble inside the six-yard box was bungled past the goal line.
SEA – Fredy Montero (penalty kick), 45+2nd minute: Fredy Montero’s penalty-kick shot was rolled into the bottom left corner of the goal.
LA – Douglas Costa, 48th minute: Douglas Costa’s left-footed effort from a free-kick attempt on the right edge of the 18-yard box was deflected into the back of the net past Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
SEA – Xavier Arreaga (Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan), 72nd minute: From a free kick, Alex Roldan’s pass into the box found the head of Arreaga, who redirected the ball into the right side of the net.
Post Game Interviews
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY
LA GALAXY DEFENDER RAHEEM EDWARDS
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER MARK DELGADO
Postgame Notes
Saturday’s match marked the 34th MLS regular-season meeting between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC.
In 16 regular-season matches played in Seattle, LA holds a record of 4-7-6.
The loss to Seattle snapped a four-match unbeaten run by the Galaxy dating back to Nov. 1, 2021.
LA hit the post twice in the match against Seattle, with Kévin Cabral striking the post and Efraín Álvarez hitting the crossbar.
The Galaxy have won their first two matches in regular-season play for the second consecutive season.
LA has not won in Seattle in regular-season play dating back to a 1-0 win over the Sounders on July 9, 2016.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández tallied his second goal of the 2022 campaign.
Chicharito has tallied a goal against Seattle in two consecutive appearances dating back to Nov. 1, 2021.
Douglas Costa scored his first career goal for the LA Galaxy in the match against Seattle.
Costa registered a game-high three chances created.
Raheem Edwards tallied an assist in his third consecutive match to begin the 2022 season.
Edwards has notched five assists in his last six regular-season games played, dating back Oct. 26, 2021.
Rayan Raveloson logged his first assist of the season.
Mark Delgado finished the match with a team-high eight possessions won.
Samuel Grandsir has played in 37 consecutive matches for the Galaxy since making his debut for the club on April 18, 2021.
Julián Araujo made his 70th MLS regular-season appearance for LA, which ranks as the most by an active player on the Galaxy roster.
Next Game
Next up, the Galaxy play host to Orlando City SC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, March 19. The March 19 match kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT and features a national television broadcast on Univision and TUDN.
images and game notes provided by LA Galaxy Communications.
LA Galaxy Sign El Salvador International Defender Eriq Zavaleta
Salvadoran international defender signed to a one-year contract through the end of the 2022 MLS regular season with a club option for 2023
The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has signed El Salvador international defender Eriq Zavaleta to a one-year contract through the end of the 2022 MLS regular season with a club option for 2023.
Zavaleta, 29, joins LA after logging two goals and one assist in 140 regular-season games played (109 starts) across nine seasons played in MLS for three teams: Sounders FC (2013), Chivas USA (2014) and Toronto FC (2015-21). Notably, Zavaleta was part of the treble-winning Toronto FC side that claimed MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Shield and the Canadian Championship in 2017 under LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. In seven seasons with Toronto FC, Zavaleta registered two goals and one assist in 118 regular-season appearances (94 starts), while making 11 career appearances (9 starts) and adding one assist for Toronto in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
“Eriq is an experienced defender who brings more leadership and championship pedigree to our back line,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. “We welcome him to the team and look forward to integrating him into the group.”
In the 2021 MLS season, Zavaleta made 14 appearances (12 starts) in 1,020 minutes played for Toronto. In 2019, when Toronto reached the MLS Cup final, Zavaleta made 16 regular-season appearances (11 starts) in 1,015 minutes played. During the 2018 campaign, the Westfield, Ind., native helped Toronto FC lift the Canadian Championship and played in 21 MLS regular-season games (16 starts) in 1,488 minutes played. Zavaleta tallied one goal in a career-high 29 regular-season appearances (27 starts) during Toronto FC’s treble-winning campaign in 2017.
In his first season with Toronto in 2015, Zavaleta tallied his first career MLS goal and made 18 regular-season appearances (11 starts) in 1,054 minutes played. In 2014 with Chivas USA, while on loan from Seattle Sounders FC, Zavaleta made 17 appearances (15 starts) in 1,323 minutes played for the defunct franchise. After being drafted by Seattle with the 10th overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Zavaleta played in five games off the bench for Sounders FC during the 2013 campaign.
“Eriq has a wealth of experience in MLS and signing him provides important depth to our roster,” said LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski.
In his two seasons at Indiana University (2011-12), Zavaleta tallied 28 goals and nine assists in 46 games played (46 starts) as a forward. During his time as a Hoosier, Zavaleta won the NCAA College Cup in 2012, was named an NSCAA Third-Team All American in 2012 and was a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection (2011, 2012).
At the international level, Zavaleta has tallied one goal in 15 games played (15 starts) for the El Salvador Men’s National Team since starting and making his debut in a 7-0 win over the U.S. Virgin Islands in World Cup Qualifying on June 5, 2021. In his most recent appearance for El Salvador, Zavaleta started and played 90 minutes in a World Cup Qualifier against Canada on Feb. 3, 2022.
Transaction: LA Galaxy sign free agent defender Eriq Zavaleta to a one-year contract through the end of the 2022 MLS regular season plus a club option for 2023 on March 10, 2022.
Eriq Zavaleta
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Date Of Birth: Aug. 2, 1992
Age: 29
Birthplace: Westfield, Ind.
Last Club: Toronto FC
Citizenship: El Salvador / USA
Acquired: Signed to a one-year contract through the end of the 2022 MLS regular season plus a club option for 2023 on March 10, 2022.
LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández Speaks ahead of the opening 2022 season
Closing out their 2022 preseason preparations, the LA Galaxy will play host to D.C. United at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3:00 p.m. PT. The Galaxy begin their 2022 MLS regular-season campaign by playing host to New York City FC in the home opener at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2:00 p.m. PT (ESPN, ESPN Deportes).