Recap, Matchday #7: LA Galaxy still winless after 2-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake

FanSided MLS

·6 aprile 2025

Recap, Matchday #7: LA Galaxy still winless after 2-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake

It wasn't the way that the Los Angeles Galaxy expected this game to go. They entered Saturday's contest unbeaten in their last three games (including the 0-0 draw against Tigres UANL).

A pair of first half goals put this one out of reach for the defending champs to come back in. Their stagnant offense failed to produce any goals, again.

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Saturday was the third time the LA Galaxy were shutout during the regular season. Including two other games in the Concacaf Champions Cup this year, this is now the fifth shutout in 2025 for the six-time MLS Cup winners.

Where did it go wrong for the Los Angeles Galaxy?

Several players were missing from the Galaxy's Starting XI. Their leading scorer, Christian Ramirez, was out of action on Saturday, and forward Gabriel Pec also missed the game.

In addition to their striker, the LA Galaxy played without both starting defenders Miki Yamane and Maya Yoshida. A younger lineup with Harbor Miller, Julian Aude, and Carlos Garces played alongside Mathias Jorgensen in the backline.

"Yeah, I mean, first I would say, I mean, in the grand scheme of things, they probably created three chances and scored two goals. So I thought in the first half, a little bit, they were overloading our back line, and we didn't necessarily go a great job of managing that situation. I thought we were impatient with the ball at times, which also got us kind of spread out. "Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy Head Coach

Both teams were scoreless until the 21st minute of the first half. Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna found the back of the net that put the LA Galaxy down 1-0. Five minutes later, he scored again adding to the host team's lead.

Real Salt Lake played a rather physical game. They committed 18 fouls whereas the LA Galaxy only committed ten. RSL also had four corner kicks; the Galaxy had just one.

The hosts held a slight possession advantage and capitalized on their shot attempts. Two of them were on target. The Los Angeles Galaxy did not have any of their seven shot attempts on target. The absences of Pec, Ramirez and Marco Reus were felt.

Despite the switch to John McCarthy in goal, the LA Galaxy have yet to win this season. They went 0-0-3 in the first three games with Novak Micovic as the starting keeper. The Galaxy tied twice after the change but have lost their last two games since.

"Tuesday is a huge game, and then Saturday is going to be important. We are going to be at home with our fans and we need to show them what kind of team we are. We are the 2024 MLS Cup champions and we need to show that to them. I know they are going to be there supporting us no matter what."Diego Fagundez, LA Galaxy midfielder

Simply put, the LA Galaxy are banged up early in this season. With many new players and fitting Joseph Paintsil back into the fold, the Galaxy lost for the fourth time this regular season.

Last year, their fourth loss of the 2024 MLS regular season did not occur until the 4th of July game against LAFC. Next up for the defending champs is the second leg match against Tigres UANL on Tuesday. Then, they will host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.