The LA Galaxy continued their impressive home form with a 2-1 win over Austin FC in their final regular-season home game, in front of a sellout crowd of 26,574 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Dejan Joveljic’s 76th-minute goal secured the victory, maintaining the Galaxy’s exceptional 13-1-3 home record this season.
Despite a tense second half that saw a 12-minute stoppage period and multiple altercations on the field, the Galaxy held on for the win. Defender John Nelson praised his team’s resilience in the face of a physical Austin side, highlighting the chippiness as good preparation for the upcoming playoffs.
With the win, the Galaxy maintained their six-point lead over second-place LAFC in the Western Conference standings. The team now has one remaining regular-season game against the Houston Dynamo before heading into the playoffs. The Galaxy could secure the top seed in the conference depending on the outcome of LAFC’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Gabriel Pec opened the scoring for the Galaxy in the 31st minute, with Riqui Puig providing the assist. Joveljic’s goal later in the match proved decisive, ensuring the Galaxy’s victory and setting them up for a strong finish to the season.
Head coach Greg Vanney emphasized the importance of learning and growing from the match as they look ahead to the playoffs. The Galaxy will aim to clinch their seeding in the Western Conference playoffs as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
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