Marco Reus had a goal and an assist in his MLS debut after entering the game just beyond the hour mark, and the LA Galaxy pulled away for a 2-0 victory over visiting Atlanta United on Saturday night.
Reus — in his first action since completing a move from his longtime German club Borussia Dortmund — entered in the 62nd minute, set up Riqui Puig’s go-ahead goal in the 76th and scored off a rebound on his own miss in the 84th.
Reus’ exploits were more than enough to ensure the Western Conference-leading Galaxy (15-5-7, 52 points) a third consecutive league win and eighth in a row in home games played in Carson, Calif. (The Galaxy were technically the home team in a 2-1 loss to LAFC in a match played at the Rose Bowl on July 4.)
It was also LA’s 400th all-time MLS regular-season victory, which is a league record.
Puig’s ninth goal and third in as many league games helped the Galaxy move five points in front of second-place LAFC.
Atlanta’s Brad Guzan made six saves, including a denial of Joseph Paintsil’s 67th-minute penalty, and could not be blamed on either Galaxy tally.
Atlanta (7-12-7, 28 points) also debuted a prized summer signing in attacker Alexey Miranchuk, who entered at the same time as Reus and saw his 87th-minute effort strike the crossbar.
But by then, the outcome had been decided thanks to some polished attacking play from Reus and his new teammates, with winger Gabriel Pec the instigator for both goals.
On the first, Pec cut inside from his position on the right flank and tried to slide a precise pass between two defenders into Reus in the penalty area. One lunging Atlanta defender deflected the pass off the back of the other and the ball fell to Reus.
The 35-year-old veteran then laid the ball to his left for the late-arriving Puig, who curled an excellent strike into the top right corner from about 18 yards out.
On the second goal, Pec worked down the flank instead of cutting inside, then found Reus near the penalty spot with a quickly struck low pass. Guzan saved Reus’ initial attempt, but he was first to the rebound and finished into an open goal from just beyond the 6-yard box.
–Field Level Media
