Galaxy extends Western Conference lead with victory over Whitecaps

CARSON, Calif. — After a dismal midweek loss to Portland on the road, maybe all the Galaxy needed to return to form was some California sun.

LA (18-7-7, 58 pts) extended its unbeaten streak at home to 15 matches with a convincing 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

“I give a lot of credit to our guys, because when we haven't had great games and got bad results, we've bounced back quickly. I think that's important for our group to some resiliency, Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. 

“Every single time we've had a loss this year, we've come back with a win and that says a lot.”

Gabriel Pec jumpstarted The Galaxy’s offense with a goal in the first half and three assists in the second.

“I think he has continued to evolve, which is what I had hoped. You know, he could still go one on one, but he's added more, sort of more options to his game, in my opinion, because he's now working in a within a system and working with other guys to to create more scenarios where he can continue to be dangerous,” Vanney said about Pec’s performance.

Vancouver’s 3-5-2 lineup was able to give LA’s offense fits, clogging passing lanes and crowding the middle of the pitch.

Following Pec’s opening goal, the match opened up for the Galaxy and the offense flowed much more freely as time passed.

The Galaxy practically walked Vancouver into an own goal as Gabriel Pec sent a cross intended Dejan Joveljic, which bounced off the foot of Sebastian Berhalter and into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Vancouver wouldn’t go away easy though, as Brian White was able to cut the deficit in half just after the break.

Pec wasn’t done yet either, as he sped down the flank to receive a long ball from Riqui Puig, which led to his assist of Joseph Paintsil’s 10th goal this season to make it 3-1.

“Wednesday game was really a game that we wanted to win, but it was it was not possible based on our mistakes and everything but this football,” Paintsil said. “As you can see, we haven't lost any single game at home.

As two-thirds of the Killa P’s found the back of the net, Puig would join the party fashionably late in stoppage time.

The Whitecaps would add the final goal of the match just before the final whistle as Sam Adekugbe’s header made it 4-2.

“The frustrating thing is, we gave up two goals in ways that we knew they would attack, which is just hanging up these balls at the back post, Vanney said. 

“We didn't deal with them in the way we need to but again, third game in seven days, three points to put ourselves even farther ahead now.”

The result gives LA a seven point cushion ahead of second place Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference standings.

While many teams in the hunt for the postseason spend the last few weeks of the season keeping up with out-of-town scores, Vanney wants his team to focus on themselves.

“A lot of the discussion is trying to continue to set like championship type of behaviors. I think when we're talking about closing out games, when you have a goal lead or a two goal lead, making sure that our that we're making championship decisions because we're going to have to when it when it really gets down to it, I think we need to be thinking about that way now.”

Next, the Galaxy will hit the road to face the Colorado Rapids on Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.