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LA Galaxy Earn 2-2 Road Draw against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Wednesday Night

September 1, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


TORONTO - 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.

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 (11-11-5, 38pts) at Toronto FC (9-13-7, 34pts)

Aug. 31, 2022 - BMO Field (Toronto)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

LA Galaxy 1 1 2

Toronto FC 0 2 2

Scoring Summary:

LA: Costa, 24

TOR: Jimenez (Achara, Bradley), 62

TOR: Bernardeschi (penalty kick), 81

LA: Puig, 89

Misconduct Summary:

LA: Brugman (caution), 15

TOR: MacNaughton (caution), 51

LA: Araujo (caution), 84

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

LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY

On if the game felt like a loss before Riqui Puig's tying goal, and if after that, it felt more like a win:

"It doesn't really feel like anything, really, until the end. Obviously there's a stretch there where you're just trying to problem solve, and you're trying to figure the best way to create some chances. We had an extraordinary amount of possession. We were moving them around. We were getting into final actions, but we weren't turning final actions into great chances... as often as we would have liked. So, when we give up the second goal, ridiculously, we shifted a little bit, and the two forwards went to a 3-5-2. We just tried to push some numbers forward, and tried to turn some of those possessions into some attacks. And, ultimately at the end of the day, Riqui [Puig] made a hell of a play. And that became a difference. But, for as much of the ball, and as much good movement and ball circulation, I think we should have had a few really good looks on the goal. We shouldn't have had to score two blinders. I think we should have scored some other goals that weren't necessarily world class goals, but world class team goals. Because I thought we were playing fantastic through large stretches of the game. Both with and without the ball."

On two starts for Riqui Puig and what ways he is transforming the Galaxy side:

"Again, it's his mobility. It's his ability to find spaces, find gaps. Play on the move. Pick up the ball. Kind of glide into new areas. Play off of people and get the ball back. It just keeps the tempo of the game, kind of flowing all the time. And obviously, he's very smart about positioning himself. When to play in one touch, when to take more touches. And he just has a unique ability to slide through spaces and eliminate, kind of either eliminate guys, or get the game into a new area so that we can move the ball. For us, we have a lot of our midfielders are guys who receive and play, receive and play. And he now kind of takes the game into a different level just with his dribbling. So, I thought he was excellent. I thought Gastón [Brugman] was excellent. I thought that was the best performance he's had for us. I thought he really looked the part tonight, and was excellent. And, again, I thought we had a lot of control of the game, and there was some moments where I thought that we rushed the final attack, when we could have probably driven our team into their half and maybe played for a little bit better final pass. But, again, very happy with the performance. I wish we could have got out of here with three, but, one, if we would have said we were going to take four on the road in the Eastern Conference, we would have been pretty happy with that."

On the need for gritty performances down the final stretch, and a look inside the locker room and his head as the squad moves forward to finish out the season:

"I mean, in a way, it's two really different games and two really different results performance wise. Last game, it was a real just battle physical wise, confrontations. A lot of defending hard, and hurting the opposition in the counterattack. Today, we had a lot of the ball. We were able to move them around, show that other side of us. But, being a little bit more killer in the final actions would help us. And, look, down the stretch when you get on this playoff run, you can't make mistakes. And the penalty is a mistake. It's a challenge. It just shouldn't happen. It doesn't need to happen. Ra [Raheem Edwards] will know that. He knows better. But when these games are tight like this, and against two great teams, who have guys who can make a difference, you just can't give everything away. We did on the second one. But, the determination, the togetherness that came out of this trip and the group game. Again, the next step of getting Gastón [Brugman] inserted into the team and getting Riqui [Puig] into the game. Those have been all the positives for us on this trip. And, we take it home, and we defend our stadium with our fans behind us. I thought the effort was great on this tour, and, like I said, we got two very different results, in two different ways. Which you need to do down the stretch. You need to do when you're on the road. So, we're going to try and take the performances and get three points on the weekend now."

On what he got from Douglas Costa tonight:

"I also thought he had arguably his best game with us. Just consistent within the team. Both hard work on attack, I thought he was very, very good on the defending side for us. Reliable. Great, good in possession. There was a couple times - where, he knows, he mentioned it - where he tried some final passes where we could have gotten maybe a little bit more out of the attack with more passes. But, I thought his movement, just his technical ability... you see his qualities can really help our group. Especially when we have the possession like we did tonight. But, his quality helped us in possession. As did Gastón's [Brugman] game, as did Riqui's [Puig] game, as Vic [Víctor Vázquez]. When you have those guys out there, then you want to have the ball. And tonight I felt like all of those guys had really nice nights. Again, I felt like the final third actions, we just need to tighten those up as we keep moving forward."

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER RIQUI PUIG

(Translated from Spanish)

On scoring his first MLS goal tonight and tying the match:

"I am very happy. I think the team is doing a good job. I think we are defending well and we are creating opportunities and we are scoring goals. Today I think that we let two points get away from us. I think the draw, after playing two road games and securing four points, is very important."

On the passion he has shown on the field, how he is adapting and fitting into the LA Galaxy:

"I have come to the LA Galaxy to win titles and I don't like to lose. Since I was little I never learned to know how to lose. I like to win and I am very competitive. That's why I give my all every day. Every day I try to win every game and do my best."

On the energy he brings to this team on the field:

"I think we all bring energy to this team. I have come here to give it all. I am going to leave everything on the field. I have come here to give my all, demonstrate who I am, the type of player that I am. And the truth is I am very happy. I am adapting well. The team has helped me a lot and I think we are a very competitive team, and we have a big desire to win titles."

On the last time he scored a goal like that and what went through his head:

"Since this goal was from so far out, I don't think I had scored like that. My teammates always say that I can't score because I don't have enough strength. And today I was able to score from far out. I am very happy. I think my last goal from outside the box was with Barcelona B and I want to thank the team. I want to thank the head coach who is giving me a lot of confidence. And most importantly, I want to thank my family who are helping me from far away, my girlfriend, and my best friends."

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER VÍCTOR VÁZQUEZ

On his impression on what it's like to play alongside Riqui Puig in the midfield and the energy he brings to the squad:

"I mean, everyone knows what Riqui [Puig] can do. He's shown again once more that he's ready for everything. He played again an amazing 90 minutes. I'm so happy to play with him alongside and with Gastón [Brugman] also. All the teammates, actually. Because when you have always two ballers around you, you feel more comfortable, you know? We like to play football. I think it was an amazing first half. And then I think in the second half, we didn't start well. But, looking at the end, it's a good point. Because, always on the road it's good to take whatever we can take, and it's good to be happy with the four points out of six that we bring back to LA."

On being back in Toronto and his 100th career MLS appearance:

"It was special, as I said before the game, to come back to Toronto after four years. It's always special. But I play as I always play. I don't care if I play against Toronto, against another team, I try to do my best for the team. To play football. Have fun on the field. And I think we did that. And I did that also. I play for myself also, because 100 games is not easy. But, at the end, it's like I said, it's a good point, and I'm always looking for the team, and nothing more. Nothing special. It's a good atmosphere. I love to play in Toronto. Even today if it was on the other side. And, you know, I love this city and I love this club, and I will always have a special place in my heart for Toronto."

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