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MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Fight Back to Earn 3-3 Draw against Seattle Sounders FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday Night

August 20, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


LOS ANGELES - Down 3-2 in stoppage-time, the LA Galaxy battled back to earn a 3-3 draw against Seattle Sounders FC before 23,278 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday night. Javier "Chicharito" Hernández notched a goal for a third consecutive game, while Víctor Vázquez recorded a goal for a second consecutive match in the draw against Seattle.

LA Galaxy Players In Form

Chicharito tallied a goal for a third consecutive match dating back to Aug. 6, registering four goals and one assist during that span. With a goal in the draw against Seattle, Dejan Joveljić has tallied at least one goal or one assist in eight consecutive matches played at home (9 goals, 3 assists) dating back to May 29. During that stretch, Joveljić has tallied six goals and three assists as a substitute. Vázquez has registered two goals and one assist in his last four appearances dating back to July 24.

Debut For Riqui Puig

Riqui Puig, who joined the LA Galaxy from FC Barcelona on Aug. 4, played 28 minutes off the bench in his MLS and Galaxy debut in the draw against Seattle. Puig completed 25 of 26 passes (96% pass accuracy), while adding one chance created.

Goal-Scoring Plays

LA - Chicharito (Kévin Cabral, Julián Araujo), 10th minute: Working down the right flank, Cabral delivered a cross into the box to Chicharito, who controlled the ball and took a touch past a Seattle defender inside the penalty area, before firing his right-footed shot into the lower corner of the goal.

LA - Víctor Vázquez (Mark Delgado), 42nd minute: Vázquez received the ball out on the right wing and fired a curling shot off the far post and into the back of the net.

SEA - Kelyn Rowe (Raul Ruidiaz, Alex Roldan), 53rd minute: Raul Ruidiaz dribbled down the right side of the penalty area and cut a pass to the top of the box to Kelyn Rowe, whose first-timed was curled into the top right corner of the goal.

SEA - Raul Ruidiaz (Nicolas Lodeiro, Nouhou Tolo), 61st minute: Nicolas Lodeiro's cross into the box found Raul Ruidiaz, whose strong header was redirected into the upper corner of the net.

SEA - Jordan Morris, 73rd minute: After Jonathan Bond made a save from point-blank-range on a headed attempt by Yeimar Gomez, Jordan Morris was first to the rebound and tapped in from close range.

LA - Dejan Joveljić (Penalty Kick), 90+2nd minute: After Seattle was whistled for a handball inside the penalty area, Dejan Joveljić stepped up to the spot and buried his second penalty-kick goal of the 2022 campaign.

Postgame Notes

Following the draw against Seattle, the LA Galaxy (10-11-4, 34 points) stayed in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, four points behind fourth-place Minnesota United FC (11-9-5, 38 points).

Friday's match marked the 45th all-time meeting across all competitions between the Galaxy and Sounders FC, with LA trailing the series 15-17-13.

In 18 all-time matches played at home against Seattle in league play, LA holds a 6-5-7 record.

When scoring the first goal in a match, the Galaxy improved to 9-1-2 during the 2022 campaign.

The Galaxy have converted six of eight penalty-kick attempts (75during the 2022 campaign

Javier "Chicharito" Hernández notched a goal for a third consecutive game dating back to Aug. 6, tallying four goals and one assist during that span.

Chicharito moved into a tie with Eduardo Hurtado for ninth place in Galaxy history with 30 goals scored in MLS regular-season play.

With a goal in the draw against Seattle, Dejan Joveljić has tallied at least one goal or one assist in eight consecutive matches played at home (9 goals, 3 assists) dating back to May 29. During that stretch, Joveljić has tallied six goals and three assists as a substitute.

Chicharito has tallied a goal in three straight MLS matches against the Sounders.

Joveljić's seven goals scored as a substitute leads all MLS players in that category.

Víctor Vázquez tallied a goal in his 99th career MLS appearance in the draw against Seattle. Vázquez has registered two goals and one assist in his last four appearances dating back to July 24.

Julián Araujo has tallied three assists in his last two appearances dating back to Aug. 13.

Gastón Brugman notched a game-high 13 possessions won in the draw against Seattle.

Kévin Cabral registered an assist for a second consecutive match for the Galaxy.

Next Game

Up next, the LA Galaxy travel to face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 28. The Aug. 28 match kicks off at 5:00 p.m. PT and features a regional television broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet and a live stream on LAGalaxy.com

LA Galaxy (10-11-4, 34pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (10-13-3, 33pts)

Aug. 19, 2022 - Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)

Goals by Half 1 2 F

LA Galaxy 2 1 3

Seattle Sounders FC 0 3 3

Scoring Summary:

LA: Chicharito (Cabral, Araujo), 10

LA: Vázquez (Delgado), 40

SEA: Rowe (Ruidiaz, A. Roldan), 53

SEA: Ruidiaz (Lodeiro), 61

SEA: Morris, 73

LA: Joveljić (penalty kick), 90+2

Misconduct Summary:

LA: Grandsir (caution), 49

LA: Vázquez (caution), 58

SEA: Lodeiro (caution), 74

SEA: Leyva (caution), 91

SEA: Medranda (caution), 90+6

Lineups:

LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Julián Araujo, D Séga Coulibaly, D Nick DePuy, D Raheem Edwards; M Gastón Brugman, M Mark Delgado, M Kévin Cabral (Douglas Costa, 62), M Víctor Vázquez (Riqui Puig, 62), M Samuel Grandsir (Eriq Zavaleta, 71), F Javier "Chicharito" Hernández © (Dejan Joveljić, 70)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Chase Gasper, D Kelvin Leerdam; M Efraín Álvarez, M Sacha Kljestan

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Chicharito, 2); FOULS: 10 (Samuel Grandsir, Víctor Vázquez, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2

SEA: GK Stefan Frei; D Xavier Arreaga, D Nouhou, D Yeimar; M Nicolas Lodeiro © (Josh Atencio, 83), M Albert Rusnak, M Alex Roldan, M Kelyn Rowe (Jimmy Medranda, 78), M Danny Leyva; F Raul Ruidiaz (Jackson Ragen, 83), F Jordan Morris (Will Bruin, 86)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Stefan Cleveland; M Leo Chu, M Ethan Dobbelaere, M Dylan Teves, F Fredy Montero

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Raul Ruidiaz, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Raul Ruidiaz, 2); FOULS: 12 (Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou Tolo, 2); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1

Referee: Victor Rivas

Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Greeson, Cameron Blanchard

Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

Weather: Clear, 72 degrees

Attendance: 23,278

LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY

On his general thoughts on the game, being up 2-0 in the first half, then giving up three goals in the second half and the rollercoaster the game was:

"I think, as you mentioned, we're up two goals in the first half, but we were still having some issues, just, organizing the defensive side of things so we could be more aggressive. We could dictate where they're playing more than we did. We could recover balls in better spots. I just felt like we were a little disconnected in our movements. And they were able to hold possession. They didn't create a ton in the first half, but I felt coming in at 2-0, I was still a little uncomfortable with the defensive side of things, in terms of managing it. Again, winning balls in better spots. And so, we came out in the second half and we were even more disconnected in the second half. We were too deep in the back. Too high in the front. Our wingers were stepping to their wide centerbacks instead of connecting with our fullbacks to defend, and there was just so much space between our lines. And they took advantage of it. We turned over balls in transition moments. Again, some of that is just being disconnected on the defending side. So, I just felt like we were... in trying to get to a position, it was recognizing the moments of are we pressing, or are we sitting in a mid-lower block? And we were executing our pressing movements when we should have been executing our lower block movements. And that just had us separated. So, I saw that happening. I didn't see the solution on the field happening. So we decided to go to a back five, which was to manage kind of the two strikers and the guys who were rolling underneath. I felt like that would give our backline maybe a little bit more confidence to be aggressive with some of those players in between the lines. And it would clear up who is stepping to who, and the reference points would be a lot clea3rer. Unfortunately, we gave up a goal before we got settled into that, off a set piece scenario. But then I felt like once we got comfortable, once we got settled into it, we took the game back over. It was clear again on the defensive side, and we were able to be more aggressive. We were able to start our attacks, and got some finished attacks out of that. So, I felt like we took the game back a little bit after we gave that one up. But, for stretches of the game we just didn't have... the collective defending side of it just wasn't clear enough. They came out in a 3-4-1-2 versus a 4-2-3-1, and we just didn't get the reference points situated. Again, whether we were pressing or whether we were sitting in a low block, we were just kind of in between a little bit."

On Seattle being the only team the Galaxy have scored first on that has come back to win, and they almost did it again, and what it says about both Seattle and his squad:

"They're a mature team. They've played in a lot of big games. Important games. They've got a lot of guys who have been around for a long time. And they've got guys who can kill you when they get opportunities. And so, I think that's why I wasn't very comfortable at 2-0 still. And I still feel like we needed to get the defending side of things cleared. Because I felt like they still have guys who can punish you if given the chance. And they still had more than their fair share of the possession. And, they're a mature team who is fighting for their lives a little bit right now as it comes to playoff scenarios, so it's not surprising they didn't just roll over and let us take the game. As for us, I think the mentality was good for us to keep pushing and to get something out of this game in the end. I look at it as two points lost, but one point gained, I guess, in the end. Everything matters right now in the stretch."

On how it is always a game of chess when he faces off against Brian Schmetzer, and what his last move to bring on Eriq Zavaleta was for:

"We went to more of a 3-4-3. Which, it kind of cleared up our reference points in terms of how we were going to defend them and press them. Our wingbacks could get to their wingbacks. Our three centerbacks could deal with their two strikers. Our midfielders could work more next to each other. I felt like it was just clearer for us, once we got situated, as to how we were going to deal with their numbers and where their numbers were. The third goal, I think it was, our fullback - when we were still in a four - released out to get to their wingback, and [Raúl] Ruidíaz goes through that space. We don't follow him. He then puts the ball on goal and we give up a goal. When we go to a three in the back, that space doesn't exist anymore. He can't run through the space. We were more comfortable getting out to press things. So, we were trying to as much close things off on the defensive side, because then we could win the balls in better spots and start our attacks in better areas. The switch to the five, was, again, to try to close off some holes that I felt like we weren't covering tonight."

On Riqui Puig's debut:

"Good. Again, I think he was dynamic. He was getting the ball moving. He's moving around the field. Getting a feel for his teammates. Getting a feel for the league. The group. But you can see how shifty and quick he is, and he can get between lines and get to the next line. By the time they get in, and we give up the goal and it becomes pretty compact and dense. Again, because now they're defending a lead not too far before he came onto the field. So, it was dense in that space. It was hard to create on the attacking side. So he had to roll out a little bit. Pick up balls a little bit lower. Try to orchestrate things from a deeper position. But, today, he was good when he came on, and I think he'll continue to build in that. I mean, the kid has incredible quality. It just was a game that was a little bogged down by the time he got into it, but was still able to find some good moments."

On how important it is in a game like this one, against a Seattle side that keeps pushing, especially in a time of the season where every point counts, and the mentality to still fight and close games when the opportunity is yours:

"I mean, that's MLS down the stretch. That's teams that are fighting for their lives, they have nothing to lose. Whatever those things are, they have the mentality of a Seattle, who has won championships and have done a lot together. It's being able to play every minute like it's a final. It's being able to stay together, know how to protect yourselves in moments where you have the lead and you don't have the ball, but you still protect yourself and you don't give away things. So, that was something that we just didn't manage well in the first part of the second half. But, again, the response to come back and get something out of the game is important. Again, I said to the guys, I remember last year when we went to RSL, and we gave up a last second goal. It was in stoppage time, on a throw in. It was in their half of the feel, ends up in the back of our net. And we lost a point. And that ends up being the difference between us making the playoffs and them making the playoffs. So every point down the stretch matters. Fighting to get even one at the end is important. You don't know how important until it all closes out. But it was an important win. It keeps them behind us and it keeps us taking a step forward."

LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER JONATHAN BOND

On looking at the positives and down the stretch, and how this game can be a lesson on closing out games when the squad is up:

"I want to say that I don't think that that's been a problem so far this season. I don't know the exact statistics, but every time that we've kind of gone ahead, especially at halftime, we tend to be pretty solid and see a game through. We don't concede that many late goals. We've been okay. I think our problem has been the first half of games, where we concede and we concede another quick one. And then suddenly we've got a mountain to climb and we're chasing the game. So, it was the other way around. We were 2-0 in this game. I kind of feel like we're starting games a lot better now. We're also incorporating new players. Obviously Riqui [Puig] came in, and Gaston [Brugman] has looked at home. And, I think there are good signs. I really do."

On Riqui Puig's debut and what he saw:

"I felt there was maybe a point in the game where it was either 2-1 or 2-2, we were a little bit tense, a little bit tired, and when we were trying to play out, we were maybe having a little bit of trouble and they were kind of man-for-man, we were under a lot of pressure. I think his first touch, he came from his number 10, number 8 position, all the way, demanded it off of me, and I gave it to him. And he played. That was big bravery, really, at that point in the game to come and get the ball off of me. That was an example of that Barcelona, give-me-the-ball-I'll-deal-with-it, that kind of character. He's a top player. He's played a the top level. We're hoping that he can help us in a big way."

On what the mood was like in training this week, and how the mood is in the dressing room after the game tonight:

"The mood has been good. Obviously, after a win. And it was a good win, 5-2. Spirits have been good. Mood has been good. And, you know, everybody is a little bit disappointed in there. It's kind of mixed feelings, because it could have been a lot worse. But, we're disappointed to give the two up lead away. It's one of those things, you know, we keep Seattle behind us. We get a point. So, we do take a small step forward, and we get to learn from some of the things that happened kind of thing. It's not like we're learning in a scenario where we're getting booed off the pitch. And we've got to regroup and find something again. So, it's really mixed emotions, to be honest. But, it was a good penalty from Deky [Dejan Joveljić] and we'll take the point."

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER VÍCTOR VÁZQUEZ

His thoughts on the game:

"What I said in the locker room after the game when I talked to the guys, I think it's about consistency. Honestly it wasn't the best first half for us. But we scored two goals. We were like, sharp in front of the goal. We really needed that, like we were saying the last couple of weeks. And then we were confident that the game was going in our [favor]. But like I said at the beginning, we started the second half a little casual again. We didn't show that we wanted to score the third goal. Of course everyone knows Seattle is a good team, they have guys that play good football. They have a good striker like Raul Ruidiaz who can score a goal from nothing. And then we let them come back in the game. I think it's our mistake again. Playing at home, knowing that we are in the fight for Playoffs, it's a big game. If you win this game, you know that you leave Seattle four points below us with one game in our hand. And we didn't show it again. Of course in the end, it's a good point because we were losing 3-2. And of course, Dejan [Joveljić] showed up again and he scored a good penalty. And we have to understand what it is, but again, I said to the guys many times, it's about consistency. We cannot win one game and then play this second game and go up and down. And this is what is the feeling from me and from the staff, from the players. We have to keep this consistency because I think it's been a long, long time that we didn't win two games in a row, and we are losing two games in a row, but we don't win two in a row. Then, again, it's about consistency. And for example, these teams like Seattle, like Philadelphia. All these teams, they have this consistency. And we need that to be in the Playoffs and to fight for the championship."

On his son being in the stands again today and whether he's going to let him go back since he keeps scoring with him here, and on his goal and whether he meant to shoot that:

"It was more a shot, because I saw the goalkeeper a bit off from the goal. I tried to shoot for the goal, but the goal looks more like it's an amazing goal, but I didn't want to put it right in the corner. But I saw [Stefan] Frei a bit [off his line] and then I tried it and it worked."

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