It looks like the Los Angeles Galaxy are putting its struggles of the recent past in the rear view mirror.
The Galaxy fell behind by two goals on the road against Nashville SC on Sunday afternoon. the last few season, falling behind by two goals on the road against a team that was a playoff team last year would’ve been a death knell for this team, but no for the 2024 edition of the Galaxy. Goals from Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic were the answer, and the Galaxy rallied to steal a point on the road following the 2-2 draw.
“I think this group is a resilient bunch,”. Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “I think just the resiliency … They continued to compete. I think the group feels like with the guys that are out there they can create opportunities and they can create chances.”
Trailing 2-0 in the 67th minute, Puig had a response for the Galaxy. Galaxy left back Julian Aude found the feet of Puig close to the Nashville penalty area and went forward, Puig then curled a ball towards goal, and the shot beat keeper Elliot Panicco far post to get the Galaxy on the board. The Galaxy had another chance in the 82nd minute, as Marky Delgado fired a volley from just outside the penalty area, Panicco made the save, but Aude kept the play alive, then played a ball to Joveljic, who fired a left-footed shot just outside the six-yard box past Panicco for the equalizer.
“It a great fight from our group showing the resilience in the group” LA Galaxy keeper John McCarthy said. “Down 2-0, if you can fight back and get a point on the road and possibly three, we had a couple chances; it’s something to take some pride in for the group.
After a scoreless first half, Nashville took control of the match in a four-minute span. Nashville caught a break in the 53rd minute. The Galaxy’s Joseph Paintsil dispossessed Taylor Brennan Washington at the Nashville end line, Nashville’s Dru Yearwood applied pressure, forcing Paintsil to take the ball into the penalty area, Yearwood actually dispossessed Paintsil and he ended up pushing Yearwood from behind and referee Wesley Costa blew the whistle and signaled for the penalty, much to the chagrin of the Galaxy. Teal Bunbury stepped up and succeeded in the 54th minute, burying the penalty to his right, even as keeper John McCarthy guessed right. Nashville doubled its lead four minutes later, as Washington crossed into the penalty area, Galaxy defender Julian Aude cut off the cross, but it found the feet of McKinze Gaines, who then passed to an unmarked Yearwood, and he blasted a point-blank shot past McCarthy and defender Maya Yoshida for Nashville’s second goal.
The Galaxy looked like they would be the first one on the board. Puig played Joveljic into the penalty area in the 16th minute, Joveljic tried to sidestep Jack Maher, who stuck out his left foot out and ended up taking down Joveljic, but Costa let play continue. Costa however soon got the call for video review, which confirmed the foul on Joveljic, and Costa signaled the Galaxy to the penalty spot. Joveljic stepped up to the spot in the 18th minute and sent the shot straight for goal, but Panicco stuck his left foot out and managed to redirect the ball away from goal.
