Galaxy defeats Austin, moves one step closer to West’s top seed

The bad news for the Los Angeles Galaxy was that it would not get to celebrate clinching the top seed in the Western Conference in its home finale on Saturday night.

The good news for the Galaxy however is that it inched one step closer to accomplishing that feat. Facing an Austin FC side fighting for its playoff life, the Galaxy put in a gritty effort, and Dejan Joveljic’s goal in the 76th minute enabled the Galaxy to fight off a game Austin side 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“It was for sure a playoff feel,” Galaxy defender John Nelson said of the match. “I’ve played in a few playoff games now in my career, and it was that chippiness, that edge, and Austin, they were fighting for their life. I think we could have maybe put the game away early; [we]missed a few chances but it happens. But the whole team rallied; guys came in, subbed in, and did well.

The result maintains the Galaxy’s six-point advantage over LAFC for first place in the West. Only LAFC’s win over Sporting Kansas City early in the day prevented the Galaxy from having a win in this game clinch first place in the West, as LAFC has a game in hand, and that game will occur next week in Vancouver against the Whitecaps. The Galaxy needs Vancouver to either defeat or draw LAFC to clinch the top seed in the conference. Until then, the Galaxy will have to settle for capping an undefeated season at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“I think the team is a contender,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “We’ve had a very consistent year. When we’ve had down moments, we’ve bounced back with positive moments and wins. I think those are signals of good teams. We have made home field a fortress, which is a symbol of a good team. We have been able to grind out and get some good road points.”

Tied at one and with a draw looming that would’ve really been good news for its crosstown rivals, the Galaxy got another chance and made the best of it. Marky Delgado played a ball to Riqui Puig, igniting a Galaxy attack. Puig played Joveljic into the penalty area, Joveljic gathered himself, then fired a left-footed shot that beat keeper Brad Stuver into the upper back net to put the Galaxy ahead.

The Galaxy got out in front in the 31st minute. Puig played a long ball to the right side, Pec tracked down the ball, slipped past Guillerme Biro to get into the penalty area initially, then fought off Biro’s defending as he got into the penalty area, and Pec finished off the play with a left-footed shot that beat Stuver far post to stake the Galaxy to the lead.

“We saw a little bit tonight was he was at speed on his finish, and he took it at speed and he hit it with power and low, and the keeper couldn’t get down, and that’s something we want to continue to take confidence in,” Vanney said of Pec’s goal. “Sometimes it doesn’t have to be perfect, but if you do it fast, you’re going to catch the keeper in a shift or not ready or oppositions or things like that.”

The Galaxy thought they were going to have a chance to go up two goals in the 40th minute. as Jhojan Valencia was whistled for a foul on Joveljic inside the penalty area, but referee Ted Unkel soon got the call for VAR, and what was discovered was that not only did Valencia not foul Joveljic, but Joveljic made the initial contact with Valencia, and while the level of contact was not enough for a foul, let alone a card to be called on Joveljic, the review was more than enough to overturn the penalty call. Having dodged that bullet, Austin FC found the equalizer in the 55th minute, as Osman Bukari had the ball inside the Galaxy penalty area, Bukari played a ball towards the penalty spot and Sebastian Druissi came in and blasted the right-footed shot past keeper John McCarthy into the upper back net to tie the match.