Marco Reus converted a penalty kick and Robert Taylor added a goal as the Los Angeles Galaxy started strong and held off a strong surge from the New England Revolution in a 2-1 victory on Saturday in Carson, Calif.
Hirving Lozano recorded an assist and goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski had seven saves for the Galaxy (7-9-8, 29 points), who snapped a two-match winless streak.
Carles Gil put away a penalty kick in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time and Matt Turner registered one save for New England (11-8-4, 37 points).
Los Angeles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Kyogo Furuhashi broke free from Mamadou Fofana at midfield and looked to have a 1-on-1 run at New England goalkeeper Matt Turner.
But William Sands slid into Furuhashi from behind, drawing a yellow card and giving the Galaxy a penalty kick.
Reus buried the ensuing penalty in the middle of the goal as Turner dove to his right, giving Los Angeles an early lead.
The Galaxy doubled their lead in the 33rd minute, and Reus initiated this attack with a run that started just inside midfield. The German international drew attention as he neared the box and slid a lead pass to Lozano, whose cross set up Taylor.
After one touch to clear a defender, Taylor bent a shot inside the far post for a 2-0 advantage.
Luca Langoni was fouled inside the box by Harbor Miller in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, setting up Gil’s penalty attempt.
Earlier, in the 17th minute, Dor Turgeman’s left-footed shot from just inside the box was tipped off the crossbar by Marcinkowski.
Gil’s shot in the 41st minute forced Marcinkowski into a diving save.
The Revs pressured to open the second half as Marcinkowski swatted away Jack Harrison’s shot in the 47th minute. Turgeman fired the rebound back on target, but Marcinkowski slapped it away while on his knees.
Alhassan Yusuf hit the post in the 66th minute for New England. The Revolution continued to press for a goal in the 79th minute when Turgeman’s shot spun wide of the post.
–Field Level Media
