MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Earn First Win of 2023 with 2-0 Shutout Victory Over Austin FC on Saturday Night

Published on April 23, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


LOS ANGELES - Playing their eighth match of the 2023 campaign, the LA Galaxy won their first match of the season with a 2-0 shutout victory over Austin FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Javier "Chicharito" Hernández tallied his first goal of the 2023 campaign, while Riqui Puig registered a goal and an assist in the shutout win over Austin.

LA Galaxy Against Austin FC

Saturday's home match at Dignity Health Sports Park between the LA Galaxy (1-4-3, 6 points) and Austin FC (2-4-2, 8 points) marked the fifth regular-season meeting between the two clubs, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 4-1-0. In three matches played at home against Austin, LA holds an unbeaten record of 3-0-0 (8 GF, 1 GA). In his last two matches played against Austin FC dating back to May 29, 2022, Dejan Joveljić has tallied two goals and three assists. In three regular-season matches played at home against Austin, Chicharito has recorded three goals.

LA Galaxy Firsts

Defender Julián Aude made his first career start for the LA Galaxy, logging 90 minutes and finishing the match tied for a game-high three interceptions in the match against Austin. Riqui Puig recorded his first goal and assist of the 2023 campaign, while Mark Delgado recorded his first assist of the season in the win over Austin. Jonathan Klinsmann notched his first shutout of the season at Dignity Health Sports Park in the win over Austin.

Goal-Scoring Plays

LA - Javier "Chicharito" Hernández (Dejan Joveljić, Riqui Puig), 54th minute - Just outside the 18-yard box, Riqui Puig flicked the ball into the path ofDejan Joveljić. The Serbian international slipped a pass to Chicharito, whose shot from the center of the penalty area was buried at the upper left corner of the goal.

LA - Riqui Puig (Mark Delgado), 64th minute - Mark Delgado intercepted a pass in his own half and carried the ball 40 yards. Delgado slid the ball over to Riqui Puig, whose shot from the left side of the penalty area was curled past Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

Postgame Notes

Saturday's home match at Dignity Health Sports Park between the LA Galaxy (1-4-3, 6 points) and Austin FC (2-4-2, 8 points) marked the fifth regular-season meeting between the two clubs, with the Galaxy improving to 4-1-0 in the all-time series.

In three all-time matches played at home against Austin, LA holds an unbeaten record of 3-0-0 (8 GF, 1 GA).

In four matches played at Dignity Health Sports Park during the 2023 campaign, the Galaxy hold a 1-2-1 record.

LA recorded its third shutout of the season in the win over Austin FC.

Chicharito recorded his first goal of the 2023 campaign in the win over Austin.

In three regular-season matches played at home against Austin dating back to May 15, 2021, Chicharito has recorded three goals.

Dejan Joveljić recorded his first assist of the 2023 campaign in match against Austin.

In four regular-season matches played against Austin FC, Joveljić has tallied two goals and three assists.

Riqui Puig tallied his first goal and first assist of the 2023 MLS Regular Season in the victory against Austin. It marks the first time in Puig's Galaxy career that he recorded a goal and an assist in a single match.

With his fifth yellow card of the 2023 campaign, Riqui Puig will be suspended for the next match against Orlando City SC due to yellow-card accumulation.

Mark Delgado recorded his first assist of the 2023 campaign, and finished the match with three chances created, three interceptions, eight possessions won and 51 completed passes (91.1% pass accuracy).

Delgado has tallied one goal and one assist in three regular-season matches played against Austin.

Julián Aude made his first career start for the LA Galaxy, logging 90 minutes in the match against Austin FC.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann tallied two saves and his second shutout of the season in the win over Austin.

Jalen Neal recorded a game-high seven clearances, completed 67 passes (95.7% pass accuracy) and finished the match with four duels won and six possessions won.

In 21 minutes played off the bench, Douglas Costa finished the match tied for a team-high three chances created.

Next Game

Next up, the LA Galaxy travel to face Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday, April 29. The match on April 29 kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

2023 MLS Regular Season

LA Galaxy (1-4-3, 6pts) vs. Austin FC (2-4-2, 8pts)

April 22, 2023 - Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

LA Galaxy 0 2 2

Austin FC 0 0 0

Scoring Summary:

LA: Chicharito (Joveljić, Puig), 54

LA: Puig (Delgado), 64

Misconduct Summary:

LA: Puig (caution), 3

ATX: Urruti (caution), 40

ATX: Väisänen (caution), 43

LA: Boyd (caution), 61

ATX: Ring (caution), 90+1

LA: Chicharito (caution), 90+1

LA: Aguirre (caution), 90+4

ATX: Unknown Player (caution), 90+6

Lineups:

LAG: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Calegari (Eriq Zavaleta, 88), D Jalen Neal, D Martín Cáceres, D Julián Aude; M Mark Delgado (Uri Rosell, 90), M Gastón Brugman, M Riqui Puig, M Tyler Boyd (Douglas Costa, 69), F Dejan Joveljić (Daniel Aguirre, 69), F Javier "Chicharito" Hernández © (Preston Judd, 90)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Simon Jillson; D Séga Coulibaly, D Raheem Edwards, M Memo Rodríguez

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Riqui Puig, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Riqui Puig, 2); FOULS: 16 (Tyler Boyd, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 12; SAVES: 2

ATX: GK Brad Stuver; D Leo Väisänen, D Jon Gallagher (Adam Lundkvist, 70), D Nick Lima; M Dani Pereira, M Alex Ring, M Owen Wolff (Jhojan Valencia, 70), M Emiliano Rigoni (Will Bruin, 80), M Sebastian Driussi ©, M Ethan Finlay (Rodney Redes, 70); F Maxi Urruti (Gyasi Zardes, 80)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Matt Bersano; D Kipp Keller, D Hector Jimenez, D Aleksandar Radovanovic

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Ethan Finlay, Gyasi Zardes, 1); FOULS: 15 (Owen Wolff, 4); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 6

Referee: Chris Penso

Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Stefan Tanaka-Freundt

Fourth Official: Jeremy Hanson

VAR: Jair Marrufo

Weather: Clear, 69 degrees

Attendance: 18,875

Check out the LA Galaxy Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 23, 2023


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