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The CONCACAF Champions Cup sweet 16 is here. Los Angeles Galaxy host Jamaican club Mount Pleasant FA. This is the first leg of two, so goals are at a premium. Galaxy didn’t waste any time to get one. Gabriel Pec puts one in the back of the net in the 6th minute.
This is the kind of necessary start they need in a home leg of this matchup. Greg Vanney has his team on the attack from the opening kickoff. LA is possessing the ball and dictating the pace for the first 20 minutes.
Mount Pleasant’s first attempted shot on goal comes in the 27th minute off a free kick, which goes high above the goal. After the early goal, the Galaxy have stalled their urgency to attack, instead, opting for playing for possession and holding the ball around midfield.
Galaxy had a great chance to make it 2-0 right before halftime, as Joao Klauss had a unmarked shot on goal from the goalie box and hit it right at the keeper.
Vanney will have to make some changes at the half. The possession isn’t equaling to enough goals. A modest 1-0 lead in a home leg isn’t good enough and unlikely what the Galaxy envisioned.
They will need to press and turn up the urgency in the second half. Mt. Pleasant must be fairly satisfied with the score heading into the second half.
Mt. Pleasant begins the half with their first significant shot on goal that posed danger for the Galaxy. LA attempts to respond moments later, but just can’t get a quality shot on goal.
The Galaxy have turned it up in the second half, some near chancess, but credit the Mt. Pleasant keeper for making some quality saves.
An apparent breakthrough the Galaxy were looking for came in the 83rd minute with a follow-up header from substitute Harbor Miller, which was taken away minutes later after a VAR check. In the lead up to the goal the ball touches Klauss’ hand. Back to 1-0.
Gabriel Pec wasn’t having it, so he smashes one in from the middle of the box for a 2-0 LA lead.
The goal will be the dagger LA was looking for to secure the win and two goals, on their way to Jamaica next. But, they apparently weren’t done, and neither was Pec. Another goal from Pec and a hat trick on the last play of the game.
Galaxy gets the job done, but not in spectacular fashion, by any means. Pec was the man of the match. Two big goals, early and late in the game, to seal the win. Galaxy played with their B squad today. No Marco Reus or Novak Micovic. LA gets to head to Jamaica with breathing room and opportunity to rest some guys.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
No brainer, it’s Gabe Pec! Hat trick, enough said.
NOTES:
- LA Galaxy players wore black armbands in tonight’s match at their own request in support of Eduard Löwen of St. Louis City SC.
- In the first match since his newly-signed contract extension, defender Jakob Glesnes donned the captain’s armband for the first time in his LA Galaxy career.
- After making his season debut as a second half substitute over the weekend, midfielder Erik Thommy earned his first official start for the LA Galaxy in his home debut at Dignity Health Sports Park.
- Forward Gabriel Pec recorded the first hat trick of his professional career in the match with goals in the 6th and 89th minutes before adding an exclamation point on the night with a third in final moments of stoppage time.
- Mauricio Cuevas and Miki Yamane each recorded their first assists of the 2026 campaign for the Galaxy, setting up Gabriel Pec for scores in the 6th and 89th minutes respectively.
- JoãoKlauss recorded his 6th goal contribution of the season, setting up Pec for his third and final goal of the contest. Now averaging one goal contribution per match, Klauss has found his way onto the score sheet in five of the club’s six games so far in the campaign (four goals, two assists).
- Isaiah Parente made his 2026 debut for the Galaxy as a substitute in the 88th minute.
UP NEXT:
The LA Galaxy remain home for a return to league play at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, March 14 against Sporting Kansas City, presented by Sherwin-Williams (6:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV).
