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LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Fight Back to Earn 2-2 Draw Against Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday Night

May 12, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


LOS ANGELES - Down 2-0 at halftime, the LA Galaxy fought back to earn a 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake before a sell-out crowd of 25,220 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Gabriel Pec scored his third goal of the season, while Miguel Berry scored his first goal for the Galaxy in the 94th minute of the match to earn LA a point at home.

Unbeaten At Home

In five matches played at home during the 2024 campaign, the LA Galaxy hold an unbeaten record of 2-0-3 (11 GF, 9 GA). During the LA Galaxy's five games played at Dignity Health Sports Park during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the Galaxy have been averaging 25,221 fans per match. In five games played at Dignity Health Sports Park during the 2024 campaign, Riqui Puig has four goal contributions (1 goal, 3 assists).

Goal-Scoring Plays

RSL - Cristian Arango (Alexandros Katranis, Braian Ojeda), 20th minute: Alexandros Katranis' cross into the penalty area was headed in by Cristian Arango.

RSL - Cristian Arango (Andres Gomez, Matt Crooks), 40th minute: Andres Gomez slid a pass to Cristian Arango, whose shot from the middle of the penalty area was converted into the far corner.

LA - Gabriel Pec (Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil), 54th minute: Maya Yoshida won the ball in midfield and played the ball up field to Joseph Paintsil, who quickly found Riqui Puig. The Spanish midfielder slid the ball towards the left side of the penalty area to Gabriel Pec, whose hard shot beat RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath at the near post.

LA - Miguel Berry (Riqui Puig), 90+4th minute: Working down the right flank, Riqui Puig delivered a looping pass into the six-yard box that Miguel Berry slid and poked past Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Zac MacMath.

Postgame Notes

Through 12 matches played during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the LA Galaxy hold a 5-2-5 record (23 GF,19 GA; 20 points) and sit in third place in the Western Conference standings behind only Real Salt Lake (6-2-4, 22 points) and Minnesota United FC (6-2-2, 20 points).

Saturday's MLS Regular Season match between the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake marked the 60th meeting across all competitions between the Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, with LA leading the all-time series 24-20-15.

Against RSL, the Galaxy hold a 20-17-13 record in league play, a 4-1-2 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs and a 0-2-0 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

In 26 regular-season matches played at home against Real Salt Lake, the Galaxy hold a 14-7-5 record.

Notably, LA is unbeaten in its last eight home matches played (4-0-4; 14 GF, 8 GA) against RSL dating back to Sept. 30, 2017.

In five matches played at home during the 2024 campaign, the LA Galaxy hold an unbeaten record of 2-0-3 (11 GF, 9 GA).

It marked the second time this season that the Galaxy have scored a goal in second-half stoppage time, which ranks tied for sixth in MLS this season.

Miguel Berry scored his first goal as a member of the LA Galaxy in the draw against RSL.

Gabriel Pec recorded his third goal of the 2024 campaign in the result against Real Salt Lake.

Riqui Puig tallied two assists, won 11 of 11 duels, completed seven of seven dribbles, logged 73 accurate passes (83%) and created three chances in the draw.

Joseph Paintsil created a game-high six chances, notched an assist and won two tackles against RSL.

Julián Aude won 13 of 17 duels, three of three ariel duels, four possessions and three tackles, recorded three clearances and completed two dribbles in 90 minutes of action against Real Salt Lake.

In his return to the Starting XI, Mark Delgado finished the match with 60 of 68 passes completed (88.2%), three chances created and won eight of 15 duels and a team-high 10 possessions in the tie against RSL.

Next Game

Next up, the LA Galaxy travel to face Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Wednesday, May 15 (5:30 p.m. PT, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).

2024 MLS Regular Season

LA Galaxy (5-2-5, 20pts) vs. Real Salt Lake (6-2-4, 22pts)

Saturday, May 11, 2024 - Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

LA Galaxy 0 2 2

Real Salt Lake 2 0 2

Scoring Summary:

RSL: Arango (Katranis, Ojeda), 20

RSL: Arango (Gomez, Crooks), 40

LA: Pec (Puig, Paintsil), 54

LA: Berry (Puig), 90+4

Misconduct Summary:

LA: Aude (caution), 18

RSL: Crooks (caution), 23

Lineups:

LA: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Jalen Neal, D Maya Yoshida ©, D Julián Aude; M Mark Delgado, M Gastón Brugman (Edwin Cerrillo, 80), M Riqui Puig, F Gabriel Pec, F Joseph Paintsil (Diego Fagundez, 81), F Dejan Joveljić (Miguel Berry, 68)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Novak Mićović; D Martin Cáceres, D Mauricio Cuevas, D John Nelson, M Jonathan Pérez

TOTAL SHOTS: 23 (Riqui Puig, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Gastón Brugman, 2); FOULS: 6 (Mark Delgado, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 12; SAVES: 2

RSL: GK Zac MacMath; D Justen Glad, D Bode Hidalgo (Andrew Brody, 17), D Philip Quinton, D Alexandros Katranis (Tommy Silva, 82); M Braian Ojeda, M Diego Luna (Fidel Barajas, 84), M Andres Gomez, M Emeka Eneli, M Matt Crooks (Anderson Julio, 72); F Cristian Arango © (Nelson Palacio, 84)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Gavin Beavers; M Maikel Chang; F Bertin Jacquesson

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Andres Gomez, Cristian Arango, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Andres Gomez, Cristian Arango, 2); FOULS: 14 (Matt Crooks, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 5

Referee: Rubiel Vazquez

Assistant Referees: Ryan Graves, Eduardo Jeff

Fourth Official: Greg Dopka

VAR: Jorge Gonzalez

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 65 degrees

Attendance: 25,220

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial

LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY

On the last few seconds of the match:

"Well, we can talk about the whole game later I guess, but the last few seconds we were all over them. Especially on the right side, we just had numbers over there and we were constantly working to get behind them, to get crossing situations, to try to get some numbers in the box. About three or four minutes before, I had told Maya [Yoshida] to try to get in the box if we had sustained possession, see we could get another big body in the box and Eddy [Edwin Cerrillo] to just stay and cover him. So those guys on the right side were just kind of working together to see if they could get something to look like a reasonable look across. The ball came back. I thought we had a chance to cross it a little bit earlier, glad we didn't. When it came back to Riqui, he didn't even have a great look. He just kind of hooked it around the back of the line. And whenever you do that, it's just about who can get their first. And Maya was on the back side of Miguel [Berry], which means that the center backs are all occupied, and so it just means that Miguel was able to get a step and a long leg in front of his man. And as the keeper came, it was one of those balls that's a tweener, a tough one to read. And Miguel was the first one to get a touch on it and it found its way into the back of the net. I felt like the guys were working hard for it. Scoring a goal was not easy for us tonight. It was not our night when it came to that side of things; the amount of chances that we had over the course of the game was pretty significant I felt like and we just were not able to execute at the right speed or put the ball in the right spot. But we were able to stick with it and get something out of it."

On team fighting back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a point:

"Games can have different feelings at the start, to the finish. There's a lot of ebbs and flows in this one. You know, early on I felt, we are really playing well. The ball is really moving nice. We are creating things. We are organized underneath our possessions. We are recovering balls back. And I feel like, can we really sustain this for the larger part of the game? If we can, then we've turned over a major stone in our development. We were unable to get that thing that rewards you, which is a lot of good play from early on. That's important. I think we still need to be able to manage adversity a little bit cleaner with our group. At the beginning, I thought we have a real chance to not just score one, but to score multiple. We've really found our ways through them and to dangerous spots. Then as the game progresses and you start to get disjointed and now you find yourself down two, it becomes a different challenge. Now it's to battle yourself back into the game and to remain unbeaten and to just one goal at a time to get yourself back into things. At the end, I'm pleased. It was the last play of the game. I'm pleased we took a point and not to be too greedy but the game early on, as I said before, if we execute there's more in this game for us. I was pleased with our start, though. I've got to be honest. At home, we have started really well over the course of the season, and games earlier we have been able to get goals early on in, which has set a good tone for us. But tonight, we were not able to finish."

On the resiliency of the group:

"We'll start with the resiliency and the fight in the group. I think this group has shown that this year. I think this group has shown that they believe they can score. They believe that they can get back into a game. It's just a matter about how we go about doing that and that to me it's really kind of the discussion tonight. When we try to force ourselves back into a game, we become more vulnerable. When we play in the moment and play the game, we are good enough to create those chances and to bring ourselves into the game. It's trusting the process and when all of the guys are out there, I feel like the game flows nicely. And different guys are set up for chances through different parts of the game. It's not just one guy. So different guys had chances and different guys had a chance to step up tonight. In the end, ended up being Gabe (Gabriel Pec) off a great ball from Riqui (Puig); and it ends up being Miguel (Berry) from a great ball from Riqui. Different guys stepped up tonight. I think the group believes what they are capable of. It's just a matter of us managing emotionally through the course of the game where there's a little bit of adversity and sticking to the program and trusting ourselves over the long haul. If we put Diego (Fagundez) on or somebody else, maybe their night tonight. He's done a lot to help us, really carry us through this early part of the season, and tonight somebody else had to step up and that's just the way it was."

LA GALAXY FORWARD MIGUEL BERRY

On how the final play developed, his game-tying goal:

"I think for like the five minutes before that, I could tell the center back was really going over to help, whether it was on Joseph [Paintsil] when he was in or whoever was on right. He was really pulling over to help the fullback, and there was a lot of space between the two. Maya [Yoshida] being up there as well, occupying the other center back. All those things make a big difference and like I said, Riqui [Puig] put in a great ball. The three minutes before that, I was on the back post waiting for one because it was open, so open and you're playing around, playing around and I think Riqui finally decided to put in a good ball, like he can do. I heard the keeper call for it and couldn't believe that he, I don't think, maybe he didn't see me. I knew if I just nicked in front, it could get in there. Really happy to score and obviously wanted the three points, but we'll take the point given the situation."

On scoring the goal and celebrating with the team:

"We are a great group. I think everyone is together, unified. Probably one of the better groups I've been in and obviously as a team, I think my equalize 3-3 against St. Louis and it was the same kind of thing. We are a team, no matter who scores, I think we are together, and you know, I have celebrated plenty of goals with this group already and it was another one and this time it was my name. It's obviously a great feeling as a team to have those moments and when you look back on your career and your life, those are the moments that stick with you. Obviously, it's a great moment and guys like Martín ]Cáceres] who are one of the most unique, special people I've met in my life. You know, one of those people who makes your day better every single day. He's incredibly funny and unique and he's had a great career, and he's such a big part of the group. For him to celebrate like that with us shows how much it means. He's played Champions League finals, won Champions League finals and played four World Cups. It's incredible, guys like that, celebrate with the team, means a lot. Hopefully I can shoot a fourth time on Wednesday."

On the offense:

"I think this team is unique in that all 11 players are very involved in the attack and we can do it in so many ways. We have players who one-on-one, like Gabriel (Pec), who are incredible 1v1; and Riqui (Puig) goes without saying as well; and guys like Gastón (Brugman) who break up the play and can play the ball between lines and Riqui as well obviously, and Dejan [Joveljić] tonight was excellent in link-up play. I'm sure he wanted a goal as well but he was excellent in link-up play. We have so many ways of doing it. We have scored on set pieces, we have scored on counterattacks, we have scored in possession and we have scored on cross. It's unique in that way. Typically teams, you have one or two ways that you typically score, and I think we have done it in so many different ways and I think that's impressive and it's something to keep building on."

On lessons learned through 12 games:

"I think game to game, it's different. Obviously as a striker who comes off the bench, I think there's games like tonight where you're excited almost because it's almost better to be down a goal than up a goal because you're not holding in the corner and you're saying 'hey, we need a goal, this is where the ball is going to be coming in, are you ready for that.' I think for me it's more you play with players like Riqui [Puig] and Gastón [Brugman] who sometimes you think they cannot play a forward pass and they can. It's about linking up with them and staying close enough and connected and I think sometimes we get away from that. I know something Coach [Greg Vanney] has talked about quite a lot is staying connected and staying close because we do have such good combination players. I think when we do that, I think this team is flying. I came on against Vancouver, it was the same situation, I think two great counterattacks, Joseph [Paintsil] on the right, and I think we scored two almost immediately. And it was the kind of thing where I know if I run for the team, they will run for me and the space is there."

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