August 28, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – LA Galaxy News Release
LOS ANGELES – In Week 22 of the 2021 MLS regular season, the LA Galaxy tallied a late goal to earn a 3-3 draw on the road against LAFC at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday night. Dejan Joveljić tallied his first career brace for the Galaxy, while Julian Araujo notched two assists in the draw against LAFC.
LA Galaxy Run of Form
LA is 3-2-2 in its last seven matches played dating back to a 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30. In 10 games played on the road in 2021, the Galaxy are 4-4-2. Notably, Cabral has tallied three goals in his last four games played dating back to Aug. 8. In their last four road matches dating back to July 21, the Galaxy are 1-1-2.
LA Galaxy Against LAFC
Saturday’s match marked the 11th MLS regular-season meeting between the two clubs, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 5-2-4. In five all-time regular-season road matches played against LAFC, the Galaxy hold a 1-1-3 record. In the last five meetings between LA and LAFC dating back to Aug. 22, 2020, the Galaxy hold a 3-1-1 record. Araujo has registered five assists in seven career games played (7 starts) in league play against LAFC. Notably, Joveljić tallied his first two goals for the Galaxy in his first game played against LAFC. Additionally, LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 1-1-2 record in four MLS regular-season games managed against LAFC during his time as a manager in MLS (2014-Present).
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Dejan Joveljić, 20th minute: Following a failed clearance inside the penalty area, the ball fell to Joveljić, whose chip over the onrushing LAFC goalkeeper from close range found the back of the net.
LAFC – Cristian Arango (penalty kick), 43rd minute: After being fouled inside the box, Cristian Arango’s penalty kick attempt was fired in off the right post.
LAFC – Brian Rodríguez, 58th minute: Brian Rodríguez dribbled down the left side of the penalty area before firing a shot from close range into the roof of the net.
LA – Dejan Joveljić (Sebastian Lletget, Julian Araujo), 64th minute: Araujo played the ball out wide to Lletget, who was on the left edge of the box. Lletget quickly slipped the ball to Joveljić, whose off-balance shot from found the far corner of the net.
LAFC – Brian Rodríguez, 66th minute: After Jonathan Bond made a save on Diego Palacios’ shot from distance, the rebound fell to Brian Rodríguez, who finished from close range.
LA – Kévin Cabral (Julian Araujo, Efrain Álvarez), 86th minute: Working down the right wing, Álvarez slipped Araujo in behind the LAFC backline and his pass to Cabral was finished into back of the net from close range.
Postgame Notes
The LA Galaxy are 11-8-3 (36 pts) this season, sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
The Galaxy (36 points) sit in fifth place in the Supporters Shield race, behind the New England Revolution (49 points), Seattle Sounders FC (42 points), Sporting KC (40 points) and the Colorado Rapids (38 points).
Saturday’s match marked the 11th MLS regular-season meeting between the two clubs, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 5-2-4.
In five all-time regular-season road matches played against LAFC, the Galaxy hold a 1-1-3 record.
In the last five meetings between LA and LAFC dating back to Aug. 22, 2020, the Galaxy hold a 3-1-1 record.
In 10 games played on the road in 2021, the Galaxy are 4-4-2.
In their last four road matches dating back to July 21, the Galaxy are 1-1-2.
The Galaxy rank tied for third in the league in goals scored (35) this season.
LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 1-1-2 record in four MLS regular-season games managed against LAFC during his time as a manager in MLS (2014-Present).
In his first start against LAFC, Joveljić tallied his first two career goals for the LA Galaxy in MLS.
Kévin Cabral scored his fourth goal of the season for the Galaxy.
Cabral has tallied three goals in his last four appearances for LA dating back to Aug. 8.
Julian Araujo has registered five assists in seven career games played (7 starts) in league play against LAFC.
Samuel Grandsir is the only Galaxy player to play in every match this season (22).
Jonathan Bond finished the match with a game-high eight saves.
Sebastian Lletget notched his fourth assist of the season for LA.
Efrain Álvarez recorded his second assist of the year for the Galaxy.
Next Game
Next up, the Galaxy travel to face the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, Sept. 11. The Sept. 11 match kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT and features a regional television broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet.
LA Galaxy (11-8-3, 36pts) at LAFC (6-9-6, 24 pts)
Aug. 28, 2021 – Banc of California Stadium (Los Angeles)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 1 2 3
LAFC 1 2 3
Scoring Summary:
LA: Joveljić, 20
LAFC: Arango (penalty kick), 43
LAFC: Rodríguez, 58
LA: Joveljić (Lletget, Araujo), 64
LAFC: Rodríguez, 66
LA: Cabral (Araujo, Álvarez), 86
Misconduct Summary:
LAFC: Cifuentes (caution), 14
LA: Dos Santos (caution), 35
LA: Joveljić (caution), 64
LA: Coulibaly (caution), 76
LA: Cabral (caution), 87
Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Julian Araujo, D Séga Coulibaly, D Derrick Williams, D Niko Hämäläinen; M Rayan Raveloson, M Jonathan Dos Santos © (Oniel Fisher, 84), M Sebastian Lletget (Efrain Álvarez, 74), M Victor Vázquez (Samuel Grandsir, 68), M Kévin Cabral; F Dejan Joveljić
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Nick DePuy, D Daniel Steres; M Sacha Kljestan, M Adam Saldaña; F Ethan Zubak
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Kévin Cabral, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Kévin Cabral, Dejan Joveljić); FOULS: 13 (Rayan Raveloson, 4) OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 8
LAFC: GK Tomas Romero; D Mamadou Fall, D Diego Palacios (Marco Farfan, 75), D Tristan Blackmon (Moonhwan Kim, 45), D Jesus Murillo; M Latif Blessing, M Jose Cifuentes, M Eduard Atuesta ©, M Cristian Arango (Sebastien Ibeagha, 81); F Diego Rossi
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pablo Sisniega; D Raheem Edwards; M Daniel Crisostomo, M Bryce Duke, M Francisco Ginella; F Cal Jennings
TOTAL SHOTS: 25 (Diego Rossi, 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 11 (Diego Rossi, Cristian Arango, 3); FOULS: 9 (Cifuentes, 3) OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 2
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Joe Dickerson
Weather: Clear, 81 degrees
Attendance: 22,032
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY
On tonight’s game:
“I think the effort they [the team] put in, the grittiness, the commitment to just stay with it and keep pushing forward as we went down a couple of times was outstanding. Guys were gassed and they just kept going, kept pushing and kept fighting. I’m very pleased. It was another point that we got out of character, hard work, and some adjustments along the way. I still think there are a lot of things for us to continue to progress on and work on. It was, by far, not a perfect match, but in a derby, away from home from the competition side of it… That we were there to match that and push through some adversity as we kept getting ourselves behind [in the game].”
On the performances from Dejan Joveljić and Kévin Cabral:
“It was a really important day for both of them. For Dejan, that’s his thing. He’s a goal scorer and he’s has a career because he puts the ball in the back of the net. Obviously, he needs a little time to adapt to his teammates, his team and the league and all the things that are there for him to reach his full potential and continue to grow as a player. For him to get a couple of goals tonight and to get things started and to have that joy of putting the ball in the back of the night was wonderful. If we can start to get him rolling and getting goals and to get Javier [Hernandez], hopefully in this next match… Kévin has three goals in four games now, so you’re starting to talk about a supporting group in putting the ball in the back of the net. Now we have to support that with defending and keeping the ball out of the back of the net so that we don’t have to have three goals to take a point, but three goals to hopefully take a win is what should happen. We’ve got to clean some things up that were really evident in moments and work on during the break and try to come back and improve on that side of things.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD DEJAN JOVELIĆ
On tonight’s game:
“It was an amazing feeling, especially when you score in the derby. It’s a fantastic feeling, I’m very satisfied and I’m looking forward.”
On the atmosphere of the game:
“It was amazing. I want to say our fans were amazing. I also want to say our opponents’ fans were also good, but the atmosphere was amazing. I was really enjoying it.”
On his comfort level with the team prior to this game:
“I was comfortable, but I [haven’t received balls] that I could score. This game came and I had some opportunities and I scored some goals. Simple. I did the same thing like in previous games. Sometimes it comes and sometimes not, but I have to do my job.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER JULIAN ARAUJO
On coming away with a point from tonight’s match:
“It feels good. Obviously, we wanted to come away with three points, but we came away with one. Playing at their stadium is very difficult, especially with their fans. It’s good that we held on our side and we kept fighting. We’re all glad that we’re coming away with a point. Every point in this league counts, so we’re glad we’ve got one.”
On his two assists tonight:
“I knew as soon as Efrain [Álvarez] got the ball that he was going to put me into space and I knew with my speed I was just going to get in behind the defender. I saw everyone coming back to defend the goal and I saw Kévin [Cabral] staying there. Greg [Vanney] wants us to get to the end line and cut it back and I think that’s what we did today.”
On getting goals from Dejan and Kévin:
“It’s very good. They score a lot of goals in training, so it’s good that it’s finally paying off in games. They’re both good players and they have a lot of talent and they’re just going to continue to score more goals and just be ready for them.”
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