LA Galaxy earn 2-0 shutout victory over Atlanta United FC

The LA Galaxy snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 shutout win over Atlanta United FC in front of 24,122 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday night. Kévin Cabral scored the game-winning goal, while Dejan Joveljić tallied his team-leading ninth goal of the 2022 MLS Regular Season in the win over Atlanta. 

Joveljić In Goal-Scoring Form

With his goal against Atlanta, Joveljić became the fourth player in Galaxy history to score in six consecutive regular-season games at home, joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic (9 straight games in 2019), Carlos Ruiz (6 straight games in 2002 – 2003) and Welton (6 straight games in 1997 – 1998). Dating back to May 28, Joveljić’s eight goals and two assists leads all MLS players in goal contributions during that time span. Additionally, amongst players that have played a minimum of 600 minutes in league play this season, Joveljić leads MLS in goals scored per 90 minutes played (1.29). Notably, Joveljić is the MLS leader in goals scored as a substitute (6) during the 2022 campaign.

Goal-Scoring Plays. 
LA – Kévin Cabral, 7th minute: Gastón Brugman flicked the ball forward to Javier “Chicharito” Hernández outside the top of the box. Chicharito played it back to Rayan Raveloson, who released Douglas Costa down the right side of the penalty area with a weighted pass. Costa slid the ball over to the middle of the box to Chicharito, whose first-timed shot was saved by the Atlanta goalkeeper, but the ensuing rebound was tapped in by Kévin Cabral at the near post. 

LA – Dejan Joveljić (Víctor Vázquez), 90+6th minute: Víctor Vázquez slipped a pass down the left side of the penalty area to Joveljić. The Serbian international dribbled towards goal and curled a shot into the far corner of the goal. 

Postgame Notes

• Sunday’s match marked the fourth all-time MLS regular-season meeting between the LA Galaxy and Atlanta United FC, with the Galaxy earning their first-ever win over Atlanta.

• Following the win over Atlanta, the Galaxy (9-9-3, 30 points) moved up to seventh place in the Western Conference standings, three points behind Real Salt Lake (9-7-6, 33 points) in fourth place.

• The Galaxy improved to 8-1-1 in league play this season when scoring the first goal of the match.

• LA is 4-1-1 in five matches played against Eastern Conference opponents this season.

• Dejan Joveljić tallied his team-leading ninth goal in his 19th regular-season appearance.

• In eight regular-season appearances (4 starts) dating back to May 28, Joveljić has tallied eight goals and two assists. No player in MLS has contributed to more goals and assists (10) during that span than Joveljić. Only Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar (8 goals) has tallied as many goals as Joveljić since May 28.

• With his goal against Atlanta, Joveljić became the fourth player in Galaxy history to score in six consecutive regular-season games at home, joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic (9 straight games in 2019), Carlos Ruiz (6 straight games in 2002 – 2003) and Welton (6 straight games in 1997 – 1998).

• In his last four appearances as a substitute dating back to May 29, Joveljić has tallied five goals and two assists.

• Joveljić scored his league-leading sixth goal scored as a substitute in the win over Atlanta.

• Kévin Cabral tallied his first goal of the season and his first goal in league play since Oct. 20, 2021.

• In his LA Galaxy and MLS debut, Gastón Brugman started and played 63 minutes, leading the team in duels won (8), possessions won (6) and tackles won (3).

• In his 96th career MLS appearance, Víctor Vázquez notched his third assist during the 2022 campaign.

• Jonathan Bond tallied three saves and notched his seventh shutout of the 2022 campaign in the win over Atlanta.

• Efraín Álvarez made his 82nd career appearance across all competitions for LA.

• Samuel Grandsir made his 59th consecutive appearance for the Galaxy across all competitions dating back to April 18, 2021.

• Julián Araujo started and played 90 minutes in his 93rd career appearance (82 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.

• Eriq Zavaleta started and played 81 minutes in his first start in league play dating back to April 30.

Next Game
Up next, the LA Galaxy travel to face FC Dallas on Saturday, July 30. The July 30 match kicks off at 6:00 p.m. PT and features a regional television broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet.

LA Galaxy Forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández To Participate In 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G

 LA Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández has been named to the 10-man MLS All-Star roster that will compete against 10 marquee LIGA MX players in the ultimate test of five skills during the 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Allianz Field. 

Chicharito, who was named an MLS All Star for the second consecutive season, has tallied seven goals in 18 appearances (17 starts) in league play this year. In three seasons with the Galaxy, Chicharito has tallied 26 goals and three assists in 51 regular-season games played (44 starts). 

With anticipation building for the best in MLS to take on the best from LIGA MX, the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G will put the following five skills on full display: Shooting Challenge presented by AT&T 5G; Touch Challenge presented by Old Spice; Cross & Volley Challenge presented by AT&T 5G; Passing Challenge presented by Bounty; and Crossbar Challenge presented by GilletteLabs. Additional information – including rules and scoring for each competition – will be announced in the coming weeks.

The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G will kick off in-stadium festivities at 5:00 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Allianz Field before the live broadcasts begin on ESPN2 and TUDN at 5:30 p.m. PT. 

Greg Vanney, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and midfielder Gastón Brugman speak ahead of Sundays Atlanta match.

Sunday’s match marks the fourth all-time MLS regular-season meeting between the LA Galaxy and Atlanta United FC, with the Galaxy trailing the series 0-3-0. The last time the two teams squared off against one another, LA fell 3-0 on the road to Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 21, 2018.

---

Gastón Brugman first training session

LA Galaxy fall 2-0 on the road to Colorado Rapids

Playing their fourth game in the span of 13 days, the LA Galaxy fell 2-0 on the road to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night. 

Goal-Scoring Plays. 
COL – Diego Rubio (Jonathan Lewis, Danny Wilson), 20th minute: Jonathan Lewis latched onto a long ball down the left wing. Lewis delivered a low pass to the top of the box to Diego Rubio, who fired his low shot into the far corner of the net.   

COL – Gyasi Zardes (Jonathan Lewis), 75th minute: Gyasi Zardes latched onto Jonathan Lewis’ back-heeled pass inside the penalty area and fired a shot into the bottom far corner of the net.    

Postgame Notes

• Following the loss, the LA Galaxy (8-9-3, 27 points) sit in seventh place in the Western Conference standings.

• LA was shutout for the third time in 20 regular-season games played this year.

• Saturday’s match marked the 89th all-time meeting across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 45-33-12.

• Against Colorado, LA holds a 37-31-12 record in league play, a 1-0-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 7-2-0 record during the MLS Cup Playoffs.

• The Galaxy are winless in their last eight matches played against the Rapids (0-6-2) dating back to Aug. 4, 2018.

• Sacha Kljestan made his first start in league play this year and appeared in his 324th career MLS regular-season match, which ranks 34th in MLS history.

• Samuel Grandsir made his 58th consecutive appearance for the Galaxy across all competitions dating back to April 18, 2021.

• Julián Araujo started and played 90 minutes in his 92nd career appearance (81 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.

• Kévin Cabral made his 50th career appearance across all competitions for the Galaxy.

• Efraín Álvarez made his 80th career appearance across all competitions for LA.

• Chase Gasper made his first start since May 14.

---

POSTGAME COMMENTS

---

Next Game
Up next, the LA Galaxy play host to Atlanta United FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, July 24. The July 24 match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. PT and features a national television broadcast on FS1.

LA Galaxy fall 3-2 at home to San Jose Earthquakes

Playing their third game in the span of 10 days, the LA Galaxy sustained a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes before 18,453 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday night. Dejan Joveljić tallied two second-half goals, while Kévin Cabral and Douglas Costa each notched their first assists of the 2022 MLS Regular Season. 

LA Galaxy Against San Jose Earthquakes
Wednesday’s match marked the 94th edition of the California Clásico between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes across all competitions, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 43-33-18. Against the Earthquakes, LA holds a 34-28-16 record in league play, a 4-1-1 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 5-4-1 record during the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Dejan Joveljić In Goal-Scoring Form

With his two-goal performance against San Jose, Joveljić has tallied seven goals in his last six regular-season games played dating back to May 29, which ranks tied with Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar for the most goals in MLS during that span. Amongst players that have played a minimum of 500 minutes in league play, Joveljić leads MLS with 1.38 goals scored per 90 minutes played. In 17 regular-season appearances (4 starts), Joveljić leads the Galaxy and ranks tied for ninth in the league with eight goals scored in 522 minutes played. 

Goal-Scoring Plays. 
SJ – Cristian Espinoza (Penalty Kick), 13th minute: After a penalty was awarded to San Jose, Cristian Espinoza placed his shot into the lower right corner of the net.  

SJ – Jeremy Ebobisse (Jamiro Monteiro), 14th minute: Inside the penally area, Jamiro Monteiro played the ball out wide to Jeremy Ebobisse, whose shot from the right side of the box was curled into the far corner of the goal. 

SJ – Marcos Lopez (Benjamin Kikanovic), 40th minute: In transition, Benjamin Kikanovic found the run of Marcos Lopez, who finished from close range.

LA – Dejan Joveljić (Kévin Cabral, Efraín Álvarez), 47th minute: After being released down the left wing by Efraín Álvarez, Kévin Cabral dribbled down the left side of the box. Cabral cut onto his right foot and slid a pass to Dejan Joveljić, whose shot from the middle of the penalty area found the top corner of the net. 

LA – Dejan Joveljić (Douglas Costa), 88th minute: Douglas Costa delivered a long ball into the box that Dejan Joveljić chested down. Joveljić dribbled past two players before curling a left-footed strike into the top left corner of the net. 

Postgame Notes

• Wednesday’s match marked the 94th edition of the California Clásico between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes across all competitions, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 43-33-18.

• Against the Earthquakes, LA holds a 34-28-16 record in league play, a 4-1-1 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 5-4-1 record during the MLS Cup Playoffs.

• LA has scored multiple goals in the second halves of their last four matches played in MLS regular-season play dating back to June 29.

• Dejan Joveljić recorded his fourth career two-goal performance across all competitions for the Galaxy.

• Joveljić has tallied seven goals in his last six games played dating back to May 29, which ranks tied with Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar for the most goals in MLS during that span.

• In 21 matches played (7 starts) across all competitions during the 2022 campaign, Joveljić has tallied 11 goals and two assists.

• Amongst players that have played a minimum of 500 minutes in league play, Joveljić leads MLS with 1.38 goals scored per 90 minutes played.

• Joveljić’s eight goals scored at home ranks second in MLS this season behind only NYCFC’s Valentin Castellanos (10).

• Joveljić is the fifth player in LA Galaxy history score in five consecutive home matches in league play, joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Carlos Ruiz, Welton and Eduardo Hurtado.

• In four starts in league play this season, Joveljić has registered three goals.

• Douglas Costa logged his first career assist as a member of the Galaxy.

• Kévin Cabral notched his first assist of the 2022 campaign.

• Cabral finished the match with a game-high four chances created in 45 minutes played as a second-half substitute.

• Efraín Álvarez registered an assist for a third consecutive appearance dating back to July 4.

• Sacha Kljestan appeared in his 323rd career MLS regular-season match, which ranks tied for 34th in MLS history with Brian Mullan.

• Grandsir made his 57th consecutive appearance for the Galaxy across all competitions dating back to April 18, 2021.

• Julián Araujo started and played 90 minutes in his 91st career appearance (81 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.