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A familiar face returns to Dignity Health Sports Park, former Galaxy striker, Dejan Joveljic in front of 18,832 former supporters of his. Galaxy are coming off a victory in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday night, Sporting Kansas City could be one of those trap games you can’t overlook if you’re LA.
The first 20 minutes of the game is a feel out process by both squads, neither team pushing aggressively, instead, opting to possess the ball. The first legitimate goal scoring chance came in the 22nd when a header by Joao Klauss sailed right over the KC keeper’s outstretched arms.
Klauss attempted to test the Sporting keeper John Pulskamp who was out of goal, with a midfield strike, but it went wide of the goal. Klauss keeping KC honest. Moments later Galaxy threatened in the box, but the ball got away from Klauss and ping-ponged out of danger.
KC isn’t creating any offense that’s threatening LA. The Galaxy is showing signs of life towards the last 10 minutes of the half. Showing more fire and threat.
Right before halftime, a Serbian-on-Serbian showdown when Joveljic had his shot saved by fellow Serbian Novak Micovic. That was the best chance Sporting has had in this game, so far. And that was a sign, moments later in extra time Joveljic had put a move on Justin Haak and rips one to the back corner of the net.
Fantastic professional goal by Joveljic. It happened to quickly and swiftly. Just one juke and he went for it. Nailed it with perfection. Micovic had no chance on that. Sporting goes into the half with a surprising 1-0 lead.
Sporting must be thrilled that they were idle for 45 minutes of the half and in extra time they turned it up and scored one. Galaxy had nothing to show for their chances. Need to convert on opportunities, which they had a few of.
Starting the second half the Galaxy look slow, a step or two behind, especially Klauss. Now, there is a valid excuse for the tired legs, most of this lineup played a full 90. Tired legs is a real thing, nobody will envy Greg Vanney for the decisions he has to make with two games days apart and a trip to Jamaica coming up.
Galaxy are sluggish and slow, so KC is taking full advantage of their rested legs. In the 75th that showed up again when an unmarked Lasse Johnsen lines a grounder from the top of the box that Micovic can’t get to. It’s 2-0 Sporting. On a night like this, that’s a nail in the coffin.
You just know LA is not getting any gimmies when two balls go back-to-back off the post and the third was a follow-up from Marco Reus, who finally taps it into the back of the net. Galaxy get on the board, but it might be too little too late. LA pushed for the next 10 minutes and into stoppage, but Sporting held on.
Though loss for a Galaxy team that came off a decisive loss at Colorado and was in control for a big portion of this game. Not having Gabriel Pec, who was out due to a red card suspension, along with Joseph Painstill, who is out with injury for an extended time, impacted the Galaxy attack significantly.
Postgame Notes:
- Between Emiro Garcés, Jakob Glesnes, Justin Haak, and Maya Yoshida, the Galaxy have a lot of options at the center back position in 2026. Tonight’s match marked the debut of the Haak/Yoshida combination as the anchors of the back line for LA.
- With his start tonight against Sporting KC, Maya Yoshida officially made the 697th appearance of his professional career for both club and country across all competitions.
- The LA Galaxy donned their secondary Rizon kits for the first time in the 2026 campaign against Sporting Kansas City tonight.
- Erik Thommy earned his first league start of the campaign for the Galaxy on a night in which LA welcomed his former MLS club to Dignity Health Sports Park.
- Marco Reus scored his first goal of the 2026 campaign with a header in the 82nd minute of the match.
Next Up:
The LA Galaxy hit the road for a two-match week. First up, LA takes a 3-0 advantage into the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup against Mount Pleasant FA at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday, March 19 (4 p.m. PT, FS2/TUDN). Following the match in Jamaica, the Galaxy head to Portland to face the Timbers on Sunday, March 22 (1:45 p.m. PT, Apple TV/FOX).
