The excitement in the air was palpable just over eleven weeks ago when the LA Galaxy celebrated their remarkable achievement of winning the MLS Cup for the sixth time. The entire stadium was filled with cheers as supporters and first responders carried the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy back onto the field at Dignity Health Sports Park. Fans witnessed jubilant moments captured on the stadium’s video screens, fireworks illuminated the night sky, and a deep blue championship banner proudly hung above the southwest grandstands.
However, as the new season kicked off, that celebration quickly faded into memory. The Galaxy faced San Diego FC, a newly established team playing their first match in the MLS, and it ended with a surprising 2-0 victory for the visitors. Two goals in the second half from Anders Dreyer, combined with a strong performance from goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, led to an upset defeat for the Galaxy in front of a full-capacity crowd of 25,244.
This loss marked a startling moment for the Galaxy, being their first home defeat in 22 games, which dated back to the last game of the previous season. Head coach Greg Vanney expressed his disappointment, emphasizing how important it is for the team to win at home.
“This can’t happen,” Vanney stated. “We expect to earn points and win here. We set that standard last year. Losing at home is not what we do.”
The Galaxy’s loss wasn’t solely a result of their opponents’ performance. They were missing key players, including MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and Dejan Joveljic, who had been integral in last year’s success but had been traded away due to salary cap constraints.
Captain Maya Yoshida acknowledged the impact of missing experienced players. “There’s no excuse for today. We have a solid core from last season, and we should have done better,” he commented. Despite the losses, he maintained that the remaining team needed to step up to meet challenges ahead.
The absence of Joveljic was acutely felt. Last season, he was one of four Galaxy players to achieve double digits in both goals and assists, a unique achievement in MLS history. Currently, only winger Gabriel Pec, who was able to play, remained available from that talented group, as the others were sidelined with injuries or were recently traded away.
Vanney conceded that the temporary changes to the lineup caused mismatches that were hard for the team to adapt to. “We struggled to create attacks,” he explained. “We looked disconnected and uncoordinated. It didn’t feel like the team that just won the championship.”
The turning point in the match came when Dreyer scored the franchise’s first goal just seven minutes into the second half, a situation that arose from a significant error from Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic. A backpass from defender Miki Yamane went awry, leading to a chain reaction where center back Emiro Garcés was unable to control the pass. This mistake enabled San Diego’s Chucky Lozano to deliver the ball to Dreyer, who struck decisively.
Vanney reflected on the costly error, stating, “The game shifted after that mistake; it put us on the back foot.”
As the Galaxy pushed for a comeback, they came close to leveling the score in the 79th minute when Miguel Berry had a chance to score, but dos Santos made a crucial save, one of several throughout the match. Moments later, Dreyer sealed the victory with a second goal deep into stoppage time, assisted by Tomas Angel, a former LAFC player.
For the Galaxy, the day that began with celebration ended in disappointment. Moving forward, they understand the need for improvement. As Yoshida summed it up, “It’s clear—we have to be better.”
This match serves as a wake-up call for the Galaxy as they strive to regain their momentum and ensure that their aspirations for a strong season remain intact.
