February 19, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – LA Galaxy News Release
LOS ANGELES – Closing out their 2022 preseason preparations, the LA Galaxy battled D.C. United to a 2-2 draw before 9,534 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández tallied a brace, while Kelvin Leerdam, Samuel Grandsir, Dejan Joveljić and Kévin Cabral each notched assists in the draw against D.C. United. LA ended their 2022 preseason with a 4-1-2 record in seven matches played.
The LA Galaxy open up their 2022 MLS regular season home opener against New York City FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2:00 p.m. PT. The Feb. 27 match against NYCFC, which features a national television broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, marks the 14th time the Galaxy will open their home schedule against an Eastern Conference opponent. Since 1996, LA holds a 16-8-2 record in 26 MLS home openers.
Goal-Scoring Plays
DC – Steven Birnbaum (Julian Gressel), 14th minute: From an in-swinging corner kick delivery, Steve Birnbaum’s left-footed volley from just inside the six-yard box was fired into the top corner of the net.
LA – Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (Kelvin Leerdam, Samuel Grandsir), 26th minute: Samuel Grandsir swung the ball over to Kelvin Leerdam on the right edge of the penalty area. Leerdam quickly slipped a pass to Chicharito, whose low shot from the right side of the box was fired through Bill Hamid’s legs.
DC – Michael Estrada (Julian Gressel), 58th minute: Julian Gressel’s in-swinging service from an indirect free kick found Michael Estrada, whose header from point blank was powered into the top of the net.
LA – Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (Dejan Joveljić, Kévin Cabral), 74th minute: Kévin Cabral sprinted down the left wing and crossed the ball to Dejan Joveljić just inside the top of the penalty area. Joveljić beat Bill Hamid to the ball and passed it over to Chicharito, whose first-time shot from the penalty area snuck into the bottom corner of the goal.
2022 MLS Preseason
LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United
Feb. 19, 2022 – Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)
Goals Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 1 1 2
D.C. United 1 1 2
Scoring Summary:
DC: Birnbaum (Gressel), 14
LA: Chicharito (Leedram), 26
DC: Estrada (Gressel), 58
LA: Chicharito (Joveljić, Cabral), 74
Misconduct Summary:
LA: Cabral (caution), 42
DC: Liadi (caution), 77
Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Kelvin Leerdam (Julián Araujo, 45), D Nick DePuy, D Séga Coulibaly (Jalen Neal, 78), D Raheem Edwards (Jorge Villafaña, 78); M Mark Delgado (Chandler Vaughn – #, 86), M Rayan Raveloson (Sacha Kljestan, 67), M Samuel Grandsir (Dejan Joveljić, 67), M Efraín Álvarez (Jonathan Pérez, 78), M Kévin Cabral (Daniel Aguirre, 80); F Javier Hernández © (Farai Mutatu – #, 78)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann
# – 2022 MLS SuperDraft Pick
TOTAL SHOTS: 4; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 4
DC: GK Bill Hamid; D Steven Birnbaum ©, D Brendan Hines-Ike (Tony Alfaro, 75), D Andy Najar (Christopher Odoi-Atsem, 75), D Julian Gressel (Donovan Pines, 88), D Bradley Smith (Gaoussou Samake, 71); M Moses Nyeman (Sofiane Djeffal, 71), M Russell Canouse, M Edison Flores (Drew Skundrich, 75), M Griffin Yow (Jackson Hopkins, 88); F Michael Estrada (Azaad Liadi, 75)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jon Kempin; D Hayden Sargis; F Adrien Perez
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 0
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Brandon Stevis
Weather: Clear, 70 degrees
Attendance: 9,534
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
Next Game
Next up, the Galaxy kick off their 2022 MLS regular-season campaign by playing host to New York City FC in their home opener at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday, Feb. 27. Kicking off at 2:00 p.m. PT, the Feb. 27 match features a national television broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
