LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, center, moves the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida, center top, vies for the ball with Minnesota United FC forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane (21) during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Minnesota United FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Martín Cáceres, left, vies for the ball against Minnesota United FC forward Jeong Sang-Bin during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, left, kicks the ball past Minnesota United FC goalkeeper Alec Smir (30) for a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy, center back, deflects the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida, left, kicks the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender John Nelson (14) dribbles the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Diego Fagúndez attempts to recover the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig kicks the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, front, controls the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, center, moves the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec celebrates after scoring a goal against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A fan flexes his muscles prior to the start of an MLS soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the Minnesota United FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender John Nelson (14) kicks the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, left, heads the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, left, is challenged for the ball by Minnesota United FC midfielder Alejandro Bran during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, center, moves the ball between Minnesota United FC defenders during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig (10) moves the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, left, kicks the ball against Minnesota United FC midfielder Caden Clark during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Miguel Berry, left, vies for the ball against Minnesota United FC defender Michael Boxall during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec (11) controls the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Mauricio Cuevas kicks the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec chases the ball down against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A fan holds up a scarf during the first half of an MLS soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the Minnesota United FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Diego Fagúndez chases the ball down against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender John Nelson, left, dribbles the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, center, moves the ball against the Minnesota United FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Miki Yamane, right, vies for the ball Minnesota United FC forward Jeong Sang-Bin during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 7, 2024. LA Galaxy won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
CARSON — The Galaxy faced an interesting situation Sunday, coming off of a tough loss Thursday against LAFC and having a short turnaround with Minnesota United FC visiting.
Just as they’ve shown all season, the Galaxy found a way to bounce back from a loss.
Thanks to a two-goal night from Gabriel Pec, the second coming in the 90th minute for the winner in the Galaxy’s (12-4-7, 43 points) 2-1 triumph over Minnesota United in front of 19,302 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“Always when you play a game like the one at the Rose Bowl, it’s a big occasion, it’s emotional,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “It just takes an extra toll. We were pushing to the end. You empty the tank in that game. We came back with a few pieces and we started off that way with some level of continuity coming from the game on Thursday knowing that we could probably bring in a couple guys.
“We don’t have a ton of guys on the attacking side necessarily. We were going to have to figure out the long play on that tonight in terms of how we would adapt if we wanted to, anything in the attack. I think they suffered through the game and I think we left some things on the table that maybe would have made that game a little more controlled and maybe see it out a little bit earlier.”
Pec’s winning goal was assisted by Mauricio Cuevas, who used a perfect chip to get free from his defender, before sending in the low cross toward the goal.
“Yeah, reaction for sure, ball came fast, reacting to the pass that Riqui (Puig) gave me and as soon as I saw that I was behind the defender, just trying to put the ball into space for a tap-in, for sure,” he said. “Just reactions, that’s all, yeah, just reactions. Been playing a lot of teqball lately. I guess you can say that helps.”
Following a loss, the Galaxy record is now 3-0-1. The win moves the Galaxy into a three-way tie for first place in the Western Conference with LAFC and Real Salt Lake.
The game was the third in a nine-day stretch that started with a 3-0 win over San Jose, June 29. Then came the disappointing and frustrating 2-1 loss July 4 against LAFC.
For 70 minutes, it appeared as if the Galaxy would do enough to see out the win, but the night wouldn’t go that easily.
Minnesota United tied game at 1-1 in the 74th minute on a goal by Teemu Pukki, who had entered as a sub.
The Galaxy found the winner, thanks to an extra effort by Mauricio Cuevas, who set up Pec for the winning tap-in.
The start of the game wasn’t easy for the Galaxy. The Loons came out in a well-structured and compact 5-4-1 formation, looking to take away space in the midfield. However, in the 25th minute, the Galaxy created their space and moment.
Riqui Puig lobbed a ball out of midfield down the right to Miki Yamane. Yamane sent in a cross to Pec for the finish and a 1-0 Galaxy lead.
Pec now has nine goals, three behind Dejan Jovelijic for the team lead.
“He’s playing with a ton of confidence,” Vanney said of Pec. “You can see he’s happy, he’s kind of settled into the team, he’s understanding the league, his English is actually becoming very good. I think he’s just understanding his environment a little bit better and the things that we’re asking from him.
“I said to him, against a back five (defensive line), I don’t want you to stand against the line because then their wingback would stand with you and it would hard to find space. I wanted to get him coming inside and bringing the fullback around where he could create separation and how he scored both of those goals is how we drew up for him in the pregame.”
Moments later, Minnesota scored the equalizer by Alejandro Bran, however, in the build-up, Bongokuhle Hlongwane was ruled to have been in an offside position. Referee Pierre Luc-Lauziere didn’t take long at the video monitor before rendering his decision.
The Loons still managed to threaten the Galaxy defense after the disallowed goal. They went into halftime with four shots on goal.
The first between the teams, May 15 in Minnesota, ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Galaxy returns to action July 13 on the road against FC Dallas, following that they will be home for two games (Colorado, July 17 and Portland, July 20) before the start of the Leagues Cup tournament.
