Galaxy rally in second half to top Rapids

It had the makings of another letdown for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Playing a midweek game on the road in altitude against a Colorado Rapids trying to solidify its playoff positioning in the Western Conference, the Galaxy gave up a goal at perhaps the inopportune time, as Connor Ronan found the back net for Colorado in first half stoppage time. Had that score line held up, it could have endangered the Galaxy’s chances of finishing atop the Western Conference.

However, the Galaxy again displayed the resolve that has gotten them to the top of the West. Gabriel Pec equalized five minutes into the second half, then Riqui Puig put on a show, scoring the winning goal, and adding an exclamation goal in stoppage time, and the Galaxy escaped Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with the 3-1 win.

“I thought we did a nice job in our movements in the second half,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “Miki (Yamane) started a little wider and came inside versus just starting inside. There were some really good actions where we were able to get ourselves facing forward and then we found the guys in between the lines that then put the attacks into speed.”

The result maintains the six-point buffer zone between the Galaxy (18-7-7, 61 points) and LAFC in the race for first place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy can clinch the top spot on Saturday night, but only if they beat Austin FC and LAFC loses to Sporting Kansas City. 

“Taking three points at home is always something we should do, we have taken a lot of pride in that,” Galaxy midfielder Marky Delgado said. “It’s just very exciting and I’m sure the whole group can’t wait. So given how long the years been, and how many games we have played and the travel and everything, we definitely have grinded all our butts off, everybody, from front to back, coming off the bench, the guys are working in hard in training to be ready when called upon. It’s definitely exciting and rewarding. It’s all the good feels. We’re excited for that to come.”

The Rapids surprised the Galaxy just as the first half was heading into stoppage time. Ronan received a pass from Djordje Mihailovic, Ronan then dribbled around the top of the box looking to create a sightline, and did just that, as he fired a left-footed volley from about 24 yards that got through traffic and past a frozen Galaxy keeper John McCarthy into the back net.

The Galaxy however had a response in the last 45 minutes. Pec brought the Galaxy back level in the 50th minute, and it started when Maya Yoshida passed to Delgado, who then dribbled down the middle of the field, Delgado played Pec into the penalty area and Pec slotted the shot past keeper Zack Steffen far post for the equalizer.

Puig then took over the rest of the match. Puig put the Galaxy ahead in the 58th minute, as Dejan Joveljic sprung Pec down the right side with a header, Pec Dribbled, passed to Puig, who fire the right-footed shot just outside the penalty area that beat Steffen far post for the go-ahead goal. Puig sealed the three points in stoppage time, as the Galaxy were on a counterattack, Miguel Berry passed to Puig, and he scored his second goal in almost identical fashion to his first goal, a shot from the left side just outside the penalty area with his right foot that beat Steffen far post.