@lagalaxy
Oct 17, 2026
Att: 21,264 • Dignity Health Sports Park
Carson—In a dangerous position in the Major League Soccer Western Conference, LA Galaxy faced a must-win game against San Diego FC and left with a draw. This puts more pressure on the next few games for Galaxy. They are close to being eliminated from playoff contention.
With this game being a special night for Galaxy fans, with club legend Gyasi Zardes being honored for his retirement, and with a crowd of 21,000 for the game, the audience was revved up and hoping for a win.
But the result was a 2-2 draw, with the Galaxy’s winning goal disallowed. Referee Rubiel Vasquez reviewed the goal after VAR review found Pablo Ruiz in an offside position blocking San Diego’s goalkeeper. This would have given Galaxy three needed points.
This was the third game in six days, with a 1-1-1 result, and an injury to Kyogo Furuhashi on Oct. 11, showing how overworked and fatigued this team has been for this game.
“Kyogo and Chucky Lozano get injured, and we did have a plan to be able to use these two guys throughout these games,” said Galaxy coach Greg Vanney when referring to two key injured players.
“Three games in six days was gonna be tough…make sure to get that one point because one point puts us four or seven ahead of other teams; that’s a big one point.”
The game started off with an electric pace where all four goals were scored in the first half. A real showing of both teams’ offensive abilities. Galaxy’s pressing and traps leading to a counterattacking style of football were the reason for both goals.
In the fourth minute, Joao Klaus scored from a defensive effort from Sergi Roberto, pressing the attackers and dishing out a nice pass to Klaus, leading to a good strike outside the box for the top goal scorer for the club.
In the tenth minute, after a messy challenge from Galaxy goalkeeper James Marcinkowski diving for the ball, fouling Cédric Bakambu. Referee Vasquez ruled in favor of San Diego. Anders Dreyer, the club’s most in-form player, buried the penalty to make it 1-1.
1tth minute, in a short response after a nice counterattacking play, Erik Thommy scored to take the lead with a beautiful half-volley that falls on the left side of San Diego’s net.
38th minute: an unlucky deflection off a group of Galaxy defenders; the ball lands at the feet of Gabriel Pirani, who just slots it in to equalize.
This would be the last goal scored in this game. A quieter second half where both teams had chances to score but neither found the decisive strike to take the lead.
San Diego’s possession-style futbol, with better passing sequences and really putting pressure on the Galaxy defense. According to FutMob, San Diego had ball possession 69% of the game compared to Galaxy’s 31%.
“Defensively we did a great job on that side… They’re a really good team in possession, and I thought we did a good job protecting ourselves and not giving too much away,” said Vanney.
Galaxy’s next game will be facing LAFC away in the famous El Tráfico rivalry on Oct. 25. A needed win if they want to ensure a spot in the playoffs
“Probably has the most tension of any game… guys are excited; you can feel it in the air because the playoffs are just around the corner,” said Vanney, who is confident this team will qualify for the Audi MLS Playoffs.
- Alejandro Polcano
@lagalaxy
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