A Bittersweet Return to Dignity Health Sports Park
The day began with the LA Galaxy basking in the glow of their recent triumph. Just 11 weeks earlier, they had clinched their record sixth MLS Cup, a momentous achievement that saw the team hoist the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in front of a jubilant crowd. On Sunday, the team returned to Dignity Health Sports Park, the site of their latest triumph, to celebrate their hard-earned title. A relay of supporters and first responders carried the trophy back to midfield, setting the stage for a grand celebration. The stadium’s large video screens played a triumphant video, fireworks exploded in the sky, and a dark blue championship banner was unfurled above the grandstands. The atmosphere was electric, a testament to the Galaxy’s storied history and recent success.
A New Era, a New Reality
However, the festivities were brief, and the new season soon kicked off, bringing a stark reality to the team. San Diego FC, an expansion team playing its first MLS game, delivered a stunning 2-0 upset before a sellout crowd of 25,244. The loss marked the Galaxy’s first defeat in 22 home games, a stretch that dated back to the final game of the 2023 season. The players and coaching staff were visibly shaken, and the celebratory mood quickly turned somber. "This can’t happen," coach Greg Vanney said, emphasizing the importance of their home ground. "This is where we get points, this is where we win. We established that as something very important to us, and something we did last year. We don’t lose at home."
The Absence of Key Players
The Galaxy were dealing with significant changes to their roster, which undoubtedly played a role in their performance. Four of the players who had led the team to the title last year were missing, including MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman and Dejan Joveljic, who scored the winning goal in the final. Both were traded to manage the league’s salary cap, a decision that left a noticeable void in the lineup. Joveljic, in particular, was a crucial part of the attack, having been one of four Galaxy players to reach double digits in goals and assists last season—no MLS team had achieved this feat before. The absence of these key players left the team looking disjointed and unprepared for the challenges of the new season.
A Disjointed Performance
The pieces Vanney used to fill the gaps did not fit together seamlessly. Christian Ramírez, the new striker brought in to replace Joveljic, was ineffective during his 63 minutes on the field. Marco Reus, a German veteran, struggled to provide the pace and passing that Riqui Puig had offered in the midfield. This left Gabriel Pec, one of the few remaining players from the championship-winning lineup, isolated and frustrated for much of the game. "We weren’t very dynamic in the front half of the field," Vanney noted. "When we were getting forward and getting into forward positions, we weren’t really turning possessions into attacks. We just looked a little disjointed. Maybe we weren’t prepared for where we needed to be with the new additions."
The Turning Point: A Costly Mistake
The game’s pivotal moment came in the 52nd minute when a significant error by the Galaxy defense gifted San Diego their first goal. Keeper Novak Micovic, making just his fifth MLS start, received a backpass from Miki Yamane just in front of his goal. Instead of playing it safely, Micovic flipped a waist-high outlet ball to center back Emiro Garcés, who was deep in the Galaxy penalty area. Garcés lifted his boot but failed to control the pass, which bounced to San Diego’s Chucky Lozano. Lozano sent the ball into the center of the box for Anders Dreyer, who scored with a clean left-footed shot. "Ultimately, the game turns on a mistake," Vanney admitted, highlighting the critical nature of the error.
A Wake-Up Call and the Path Forward
The score opened the game up as the Galaxy pushed for an equalizer, but their efforts were thwarted by San Diego’s disciplined defense and goalkeeper CJ dos Santos. The Galaxy nearly found the equalizer in the 79th minute when a Yamane cross found Miguel Berry at the edge of the six-yard box, but his left-footed deflection was smothered by Dos Santos. Just a minute later, Dos Santos made another crucial save, one of three on the day, on a try from Ruben Ramos Jr. Dreyer sealed the victory for San Diego with his second goal three minutes into stoppage time, assisted by former LAFC forward Tomás Ángel. For the Galaxy, it was a bitter end to a day that began with a joyous celebration. "This is very obvious," Yoshida repeated. "We have to be better." The loss served as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for the team to regroup and refocus as they face the challenges of the new season.
