Harbor Miller, Elijah Wynder and Gabriel Pec each scored goals Saturday night as LA Galaxy enjoyed a rare win, blanking the visiting Colorado Rapids 3-0 in Carson, Calif.
The Galaxy (4-16-7, 19 points) have the worst record in MLS but looked more like one of the best teams on this night. They outshot Colorado (10-12-6, 36 points) 17-12 and allowed only one shot on frame.
Miller got the only goal the Galaxy needed in the seventh minute. Miki Yamane serviced him just to the right of the penalty spot and Miller finished clinically, drilling his shot into the lower left corner past a helpless Zack Steffen.
Nursing their 1-0 edge early in the second half, the Galaxy doubled it through Wynder, with more help from Yamane. Wynder slalomed through multiple Rapids defenders and distributed to Yamane, who flicked a pass back to Wynder as he ran unmarked through the box. Wynder deflected the pass past a diving Steffen in the 55th minute.
Pec helped the broadcasters unveil the blowout material in the 75th minute. A pretty long ball from teammate Marco Reus sent Pec all alone down the right side. Given time and space to plot his finish, Pec sent a shot through the legs of Steffen, allowing the Galaxy to enjoy the game’s remainder.
Colorado’s only shot on net came in the 17th minute via Ted Ku-Dipietro but it was turned away by JT Marcinkowski. The Rapids came up with a pair of better chances after the issue was decided but Paxten Aaronson hit the right post and Rafael Navarro followed by sailing his attempt right of frame.
It was a disappointing result for Colorado, which came into the match showing some of its best form of the season. It earned consecutive wins over Minnesota and Atlanta United after selling the contract of midfielder Djordje Mihailovic to Toronto and entered the night sitting at seventh in the West table.
But the Rapids failed to build on that momentum, enduring their eighth clean sheet of the season.
–Field Level Media
