LA Galaxy return home to battle against Seattle Sounders FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, March 30, this match between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC marks the 49th meeting across all competitions between the two teams, with the Galaxy trailing the all-time series 16-19-13.
Against Seattle, the Galaxy hold a 10-14-13 record in league play, a 4-3-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs and a 2-2-0 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In the last meeting between the two teams, LA fell 2-1 on the road to Seattle at Lumen Field on Oct. 4, 2023. In 19 regular-season matches played at home against Seattle, the Galaxy hold a 6-6-7 record. The last time LA defeated Sounders FC in an MLS regular-season match at Dignity Health Sports Park was a 3-0 win on Sept. 23, 2018. In the last meeting between the two teams at Dignity Health Sports Park, the LA Galaxy earned a 3-1 win over Seattle in the Round of 32 of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 10, 2023.
These two teams have a competitive background and as both teams are entering this game with different strengths LA Galaxy currently hold a better position by far this season. Seattle having to postpone one game, then a 0-0 tie against Colorado, while also losing a player Josh Atencio for a double yellow then following that result with a loss recently against Houston Dynamo 1-0.
Although the current situation for Seattle is not ideal, it’s as if the table really did turn on this years two teams. LA being in second place with breaking records forward, Dejan Joveljić ties MLS record with fifth consecutive match with a goal scored each game to begin a season. LA Galaxy scored three second-half goals to earn their first road win at Sporting KC dating back to 2019. "We didn't play well where we usually don't win, first half things weren't as smooth but this group believe in each other, with the right balance we became dangerous and we got the 3 points and that's all that matters." Head Coach Greg Vanney
The team being down 2-0 in the 71st minute, the LA then scored three goals in the span of eight minutes to earn a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Something that was not in their demo or last year. This team is different from last year 2-0 could of been a different scenario for this new and improved Galaxy, while Mark Delgado scored the game-winning goal in the comeback victory over Kansas City, this same team looks forward to getting positive results with the momentum they are carrying this season.
The team happened to be down 2-0 off of two set plays and with the offside rule hurting them all game long last week but the team came back “ the locker room was different this time, we knew we could come back and score the teams mentality is different from last year, we knew we just needed to score one goal to have things change for us, the minute we scored the first we felt good the energy was contagious and that’s something we didn’t have all year long, last year.” Said Dejan Joveljić after the match on Saturday
This weekend the team isn’t to worried about scoring goals as they also had there defenders get on the board, LA’s – Eriq Zavaleta, on the 72nd minute with a loose ball inside the penalty fell to Zavaleta, whose left-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box found the bottom corner opening up the score for the team. Then shortly followed by now top scorer Dejan Joveljić scored, assisted by both (Riqui Puig, Gastón Brugmanin ) the 75th minute. Riqui Puig played a through ball that released Joveljić in behind the Sporting KC defense and the Serbian international forward slotted his shot in at the bottom right corner of the goal. And lastly Mark Delgado, with is stupendous goal in the 80th minute to seal the deal. With Gabriel Pec’s low cross from the left edge of the 18-yard box was converted at the back post by Mark Delgado, the celebration delayed for a few minutes but after a positive VAR check Galaxy took the win and now sits calmly in 2nd place in the West Coast Conference.
https://x.com/lagalaxy/status/1771965568116990149?s=46&t=L5tt6BzjR5rOlddVKTh5wgKeys players for the Seattle game will be John McCarthy who made a season-high seven saves in the win over Sporting KC. The seven saves are the second-highest amount of saves in an MLS regular-season match in McCarthy’s career. Gabriel Pec also made his first career start for the LA Galaxy, logging 90 minutes of action. but definitely Mark Delgado who finished the match with a goal scored, two chances created, 41 of 50 passes completed (82.0%) and won seven possessions. will be a key component for the team, Delgado has five goal contributions (1 goal, 4 assists) in five matches played during the 2024 campaign and With his game-tying goal in the 75th minute against Sporting KC, Joveljić joined Brian McBride as the only players in MLS history to score in a team’s first five matches to begin a season. Additionally, Joveljić tied Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s club record for the most consecutive games played with a goal scored to begin a season (5). With a goal scored next week against Seattle Sounders FC, Joveljić would equal Jaime Moreno’s MLS record for the most consecutive games played by a player with a goal scored to begin a season (6 in 1997). Also Joveljić now isn’t just a super-sub or the player who just fills in, now his role is to lead LA Galaxy as the top scorer and potentially obtain the golden boot along with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Chucho Hernández.
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 0 3 3
Sporting Kansas City 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
SKC: Radoja (Salloi), 34
SKC: Agada, 45+3
LA: Zavaleta, 72
LA: Joveljić (Puig, Brugman), 75
LA: Delgado, 80
Misconduct Summary:
SKC: Thommy (caution), 53
SKC: Leibold (caution), 69
LA: Brugman (caution), 88
Lineups: ( against Sporting Kansas )
LA: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Eriq Zavaleta, D Maya Yoshida, D Julián Aude; M Mark Delgado, M Edwin Cerrillo (Gastón Brugman, 62), M Riqui Puig, F Gabriel Pec (Diego Fagundez, 83), F Joseph Paintsil, F Dejan Joveljić (Miguel Berry, 83)
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Four players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Dejan Joveljić); FOULS: 10 (Four players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 11; SAVES: 7