Reus debuts, assists, then scores in Galaxy win over Atlanta United

It was a grand debut for the Marco Reus on Saturday night.

The Borussia Dortmund legend made his LA Galaxy debut in the second half of its match against Atlanta United, and eventually made his presence felt. First, Reus assisted on the winning goal from Riqui Puig, then got himself on the scoresheet late in the half, and the Galaxy maintained its spot atop the Western Conference with a 2-0 win at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I was really, really excited before the game,” Reus said of his debut. “I didn’t play for two months, I think. I was really, really excited to come in and to get a couple minutes from the coach with the team. I was really, really happy that we found a way to win the game.”

With the win, the Galaxy (15-5-7, 52 points) created some more space between them and LAFC. The Galaxy are not five points ahead of its crosstown rival for the top spot in the Western Conference.

The Galaxy edged ahead in the 76th minute. Gabriel Pec tried to split the Atlanta defense with a ball between a pair of defenders. The ball took a deflection, but ultimately found the feet or Reus inside the penalty area, Reus dribbled inside, then played a ball and Puig came in and blasted a right-footed shot that beat keeper Brad Guzan far post to put the Galaxy in front.

Reus then got his chance to get on the scoresheet himself, and moment came in the 85th minute. Pec dribbled down the right side of the field, then crossed into the penalty area and Reus one0-timed a shot at goal, Guzan stopped the shot, but the ball fell back to the feet of Reus, and as you would guess, he did not waste the rebound chance, as he again one-time a shot, only this time, it got past a scrambling Guzan into the back net to wrap up the three points.

“You bring on Marco Reus, and the crowd gets going again and the energy level picks up, and with Gastón (Brugman) and Miggy (Miguel Berry),” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “Just everything started to pick up in tempo, hope in the stadium, everything. Energy started to pick up and guys started to go. I think all of those things contribute to that.”

The Galaxy thought they were going to take the lead earlier in the second half. A handball call sent the Galaxy to the penalty spot, and after VAR confirmed the call, Joseph Paintsil stepped up to the penalty spot and sent the penalty to his right, but Guzan guessed right, and parried the ball back into play.