Prior to its annual post-game Fourth-of-July fireworks show, the Los Angeles Galaxy displayed some fireworks of their own on the pitch.
Led by Rayan Raveloson’s brace, and first half goals from Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Dejan Joveljic, the Galaxy enjoyed its Independence Day against CF Montreal and in the process, snapped out of a post-international break funk with a 4-0 win at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“Today was a result based off of intensity, hard work and dedication,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “Doing what you need to do and executing on the transition when we needed to. It wasn’t a game of tactical superiority on the day. It was a game where the guys just put it in and they got the job done. Sometimes that’s the way the game plays out.”
After enduring a two-week stretch in which it was upset in the US Open Cup by Sacramento Republic, saw its annual in-state matchup with the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium postponed due to Wildfires in Northern California, then get virtually outplayed by Minnesota United at home five days ago, and not to mention watching cross-town rival LAFC steal all the soccer headlines in the city by signing players such as Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale, the Galaxy finally got back some of the headlines on themselves on Monday night. The Galaxy climbed to fourth place in the Western Conference and gained some momentum heading into what could be a massive El-Trafico matchup with LAFC on Friday at Banc of California Stadium.
The Galaxy got going in the eighth minute. Samuel Grandsir received a ball from Raveloson, crossed into the penalty area, Efrain Alvarez headed a ball into the six-yard box and Chicharito shot a ball that bounced past keeper Sebastian Breza far post to get the Galaxy on the board. The Galaxy maintained its lead for the remainder of the half, then got an opportunity to add to it right before halftime, as Joveljic headed a ball into the penalty area, only to see the ball go off the hand of Montreal’s Joel Waterman, and the Galaxy were awarded the penalty. Joveljic stepped to the spot, and sent the shot to the right side of goal, as Breza dove left.
The second half then became the Ravelson show. Ravelson got his first goal in the 60th minute, as Daniel Aguirre sprung Julian Araujo down the right side of the field, Araujo crossed into the penalty area and Raveloson one-timed a shot just outside the six past Breza into the back net to make it a three-goal Galaxy lead. Ravelson got his brace in the 79th minute, as Araujo passed a ball to Joveljic, who then back-heeled a ball to Ravelson, who was kept onside by Montreal’s Victor Wanyama and Raveloson slotted the shot past Breza into the upper back net.
“I would say, just from the beginning, our intensity and mentality of each and every member on the field was sharp, it was excellent,” Galaxy midfielder Marky Delgado said. “From the beginning everyone was locked in. We gave them nothing. We didn’t let them pick their head up, once they left it off for someone else, another guy was going out and pressuring and we were following in from behind, so we didn’t give them much time to really put anything together.”
