The Los Angeles Galaxy secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Austin FC on Saturday night, inching closer to clinching the top seed in the Western Conference. Dejan Jovelji? scored the go-ahead goal in the 76th minute, while Gabriel Pec continued his impressive form by becoming the second Galaxy player to score in four consecutive matches this season. With the win, the Galaxy improved to 19-7-7 for the season, firmly positioning themselves ahead of Los Angeles FC by six points.
Sebastián Driussi managed to level the score for Austin FC in the 55th minute, but it wasn’t enough to keep their MLS postseason hopes alive as they were officially eliminated from contention. Both Jovelji? and Pec have been standout performers for the Galaxy this season, each contributing 15 goals to the team’s success. The Galaxy is on the verge of finishing first in the Western Conference for the first time since 2011, aiming to secure the top spot.
Riqui Puig played a pivotal role by assisting on both of the Galaxy’s goals, further solidifying his importance to the team. Goalkeeper John McCarthy made four crucial saves to help preserve the Galaxy’s lead. On the other side, Austin’s Brad Stuver made two saves but couldn’t prevent his team from suffering defeat. Despite a nearly even possession split, Austin had a slight edge in shot attempts with an 18-15 advantage.
Jovelji? showcased his skill by scoring a brilliant goal after receiving a pass from Puig in the center of the box, maneuvering past Austin defenders before finding the back of the net. Meanwhile, Pec opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a well-executed finish, demonstrating his impact in his first MLS season with four goals and three assists in the last four games.
The match took a tense turn towards the end when Guilherme Biro of Austin FC received a red card for a reckless tackle on Puig in the 103rd minute. Jovelji?’s impressive goal streak this season has solidified his place in Galaxy history, scoring in five consecutive games at the start of the campaign. The Galaxy’s next fixture is against Houston, while Los Angeles FC will host San Jose as the MLS regular season draws to a close on October 19.
