CARSON, Calif. — Thousands of fans packed the stands at Dignity Health Sports Park, draped from head to toe in the color scheme of the hosts, red and white stripes.
Except, that isn’t the Galaxy’s color scheme. They actually weren’t the home team, either.
Feels like a party outside of @dignityhealthsp before the #LAGalaxy faces Chivas pic.twitter.com/DNoAGNSABi
— Anthony Bautista (@byanthonyba) August 5, 2024
LA was technically the road team during the Leagues Cup group victory over Liga MX’s Chivas Guadalajara in Penalties, 2-2 (5-4).“So it was just, it was good to see, you know, our fans were there loud and the ends were and through some of the middle,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “But certainly Chivas shows up. and we knew that was going to be the case. They travel very well, and they have fans everywhere, so, it just made a great environment in the stadium.”
Micovic saves Sepulveda’s shot and ends this one! #LAGalaxy win and top West Group 2 with five points. Chivas eliminated from #LeaguesCup
— Anthony Bautista (@byanthonyba) August 5, 2024
LA: ✅❌✅✅✅✅
Chivas: ✅✅✅❌✅❌@SportingTrib
The result puts LA in first place in the group with six points, the victory over San Jose earlier in the week reserved the Galaxy’s place in the Round of 32.Despite the overwhelming support on hand in Carson, the Chivas couldn’t come away with a victory and exit in the Leagues Cup group stage for the second year in a row.
Every penalty in @LAGalaxy's win over Chivas in @LeaguesCup. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9JQHl6c4A3
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 5, 2024
Alan Mozo’s opening goal sent all the Chivahermanos on hand into a frenzy.
Guadalajara’s celebration was short lived though, as the Galaxy had a response two minutes later.
Riqui Puig threads the needle to set up LA Galaxy's equalizer 🪡
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 5, 2024
(via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/LAlXELudxl
Riqui Puig sent a perfect ball to Mauricio Cuevas, who was able to find Joseph Paintsil for the goal from point blank range.
Sunday’s match was very physical throughout and tensions nearly boiled over before both clubs went into the locker room after Ricardo Marín wrapped his hands around Riqui Puig’s shoulders and fouled him afterwards.
Skirmish breaks out between both squads, Ricardo Marín wrapped his hands around Riqui Puig’s shoulders and fouled him afterwards.
— Anthony Bautista (@byanthonyba) August 5, 2024
Yellow cards issued to Ruben Gonzalez and Martin Cáceres. #LAGalaxy
Yellow cards were issued to Marin and his teammate Ruben Gonzalez, Martin Cáceres got booked as well.
Gabriel Pec was able to give the Galaxy its first lead of the match in the second half, as Mark Delgado picked up the assist.
Gabriel Pec! 😤
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 5, 2024
A silky smooth finish gives the @LAGalaxy a 2-1 lead over Chivas in @LeaguesCup! pic.twitter.com/nyXztT45Fi
It looked like the Galaxy were going to put the result on ice, but Cade Cowell had other plans.
Cowell’s stoppage time header gave the Chivas life, due to the rule in Leagues Cup that if a match is tied after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalty kicks.
In the penalty shootout, Diego Fagundez missed for LA while Omar Govea and Gilberto Sepúlveda missed for Chivas, which was eliminated for the second consecutive tournament in the group stage of the Leagues Cup. The result punches San Jose’s ticket to the next round.
The match was also supposed to be a homecoming for former Galaxy designated player ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, who was in the initial starting XI, but a quad injury during pregame sidelined him.
Next, the Galaxy will travel to Seattle to play the Sounders in the Round of 32, which left Vanney confused.
“We still win the group. We still have to travel and play, and someone's going to have to explain to me how that works, because last year we had a tough year, and so now we have to pay for it again. So the year that just keeps on giving to us was 2023 but I'm proud of the guys”