LA Galaxy not off to a good start in CONCACAF Champions Cup

With each passing match, 2024 is starting to become more of a distant memory for the LA Galaxy.

Having lost is first two matches to start the MLS season, the Galaxy hoped the beginning of its CONCACAF Champions Cup run on Wednesday night could boost morale. CS Herediano however wasn’t any kinder to the Galaxy than San Diego FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps were to the defending MLS champs. Elias Aguilar’s wonder strike in the second half was the difference in the first leg at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, and the Costa Rican side drew first blood with the 1-0 win.

“Their whole team worked really hard to protect their goal,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said of Herediano’s effort. “They were disciplined, obviously very effective in the way they play and tonight, I think they won a lot of the duels and the competitive battles throughout the course of the match that I think that turns the edge and they finished the chance that we weren’t able to do through the course of the night.”

After 64 scoreless minutes, it was Herediano broke through in the 65th minute in spectacular fashion. Haxzel Quiros dispossessed Elijah Wynder, Aguilar got to the loose ball, took a touch before firing a left-footed shot from about 30 yards out that got past keeper John McCarthy far post to vault Herediano into the lead.

The Galaxy did its best to respond. Marco Reus, already inside the penalty area, got behind the Herediano defense in the 68th minute and fired a point-blank shot around the six-yard box, but keeper Danny Carvajal denied Reus on the chance. Diego Fagundez had two chances himself late in the half, the first coming in the 85th minute, as Julian Aude played him forward, Fagundez sent a ball directly towards goal, but Carvajal calmly collected the ball. Fagundez had another shot late in stoppage time, as he tracked down a ball played towards goal, Fagundez tried to redirect the ball, but Carvajal stopped the ball and eventually collected the ball.

While the first half was scoreless, both side had its chances to find the back net. Herediano had the game’s first chance in the ninth minute, as Darryl Araya played a ball to Marcel Hernandez, who was in the middle lane, Hernandez then sprung Allan Cruz into the penalty area, Cruz aimed for the far post with a right-footed shot, but McCarthy made the save. The Galaxy had the next best chances, with the first coming in the 17th minute, as Gabriel Pec fired a laser off his left foot from 30 plus yards out, but Carvajal parried the ball away from goal. The next chance for the Galaxy came in the 37th minute, as Reus played Ruben Ramos into the penalty area, Ramos shot with his right foot, but Carvajal made the save.

“We had some chances, we didn’t finish them and now we’re at home and we’ve got to make sure that we manage our goal and get someone on the attacking end,” Vanney said. 

The Galaxy’s chance to overturn the deficit will be next Wednesday back at home on Wednesday night. Before then, the Galaxy will welcome another opponent to Dignity Health Sports Park, St. Louis City FC, on Sunday evening.