Marco Reus and Diego Fagundez scored goals and the Los Angeles Galaxy continued their recent strong play with a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night at Carson, Calif.
Los Angeles (3-13-6, 12 points) has recovered from the worst start in MLS history (0-12-4) to earn points in five of its past six matches (3-1-2).
Gabriel Pirani registered the goal for D.C. United (4-11-7, 19 points), who played their first match under interim coach Kevin Flanagan. The club fired Troy Lesesne on Thursday.
The Galaxy stopped a four-match winless streak (0-2-2) against D.C. United. Los Angeles had last prevailed in the series by a 4-1 score in 2016.
Luis Barraza made three saves for D.C. United, while Novak Micovic had two for the Galaxy.
Los Angeles had a 13-11 edge in shots and placed five on target to D.C. United’s three.
The sequence for the Galaxy’s first goal included Julian Aude taking a left-footed shot that was blocked by D.C. United’s Lucas Bartlett in the 23rd minute. The ball went over to Reus, who sent a right-footed shot into the net at the far post.
Los Angeles made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute with Bartlett again blocking a shot — this one a right-footer by Joseph Paintsil. The rebound went directly to an unchecked Fagundez on the left side and he placed a right-footed shot inside the near post.
D.C. United nearly got on the scoreboard in the 62nd minute but Brandon Servania’s right-footed shot smacked off the crossbar.
Gabriel Pec of the Galaxy had an open left-footed shot in the 75th minute stopped by Barraza.
Just two minutes later, D.C. United ended the shutout as Joao Peglow flipped a pass ahead to Pirani, who only needed to beat Micovic. He easily did so with a right-footed shot into the right corner of the net.
D.C. United nearly knotted the score in the 84th minute but Aaron Herrera’s header went just right of the net.
–Field Level Media
