LA Galaxy’s struggles continue in 2-1 loss to Whitecaps

CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy’s rocky start to the 2025 season continued Sunday as they fell 2-1 to the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place. A late goal by Brian White in the 87th minute sealed the Galaxy’s fate, leaving the defending MLS Cup champions winless in their first two matches of the season.

The Galaxy, already reeling from a 2-0 loss to expansion side San Diego FC in their home opener, showed flashes of resilience but were unable to overcome defensive lapses and a slow start against a motivated Vancouver side.

Vancouver struck early, taking the lead in just the third minute. Sam Adekugbe slipped past Zanka and his right-footed shot beat Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic. 

"We didn't manage the space well," Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said afterwards. "The strong side center back has to be able to deal with that, help us deal with that space and we weren't all the way there. So that opened us up right off the bat." 

The start was far from ideal, but as the match progressed, the Galaxy were able to work their way back into the match, as reflected by Gabriel Pec's equalizer that put LA on the scoreboard for the first time in 2025.

"I really felt like we were starting to find the right solutions to the game," Vanney said. "We were giving ourselves some good looking attacks, obviously one of which leads to a goal." 

However, the injury bug bit the Galaxy in the second half, as they had to replace Emiro Garces and Lucas Sanabria due to injuries. 

Vanney said Garces had a cramp in his right calf and did not want to risk further injury. Vanney added that Sanabria likely has a fracture in his collarbone, but nothing is official yet. 

Vanney was upset that the tackle that caused Sanabria's injury wasn't reviewed by VAR.

"Lucas, fortunately didn't get his leg broken on the tackle. That was not a yellow card or a red card, because that was bad if you look at it on video. But, he does have a fracture in his collarbone, we'll have to confirm that but he's certainly immobile because of the collarbone issue."

Despite losing two starters to injury, the Galaxy managed to keep the score level for most of the second half, until a defensive miscommunication led to the winning goal. Zanka, making his first start for the Galaxy, was the nearest defender to the play and claimed responsibility for the breakdown.

"I feel like I should been in a better position to clear that ball, so it's definitely with a heavy heart sitting hear, because other than that, the game was alright from a personal standpoint. A point here would have meant a lot," Zanka said afterwards.

Miki Yamane did not make the trip to Vancouver and he will not make the trip to Costa Rica for the Galaxy's next matchup either. Vanney said that Yamane picked up a hamstring injury during training and he did not want Yamane to play this week out of precaution.

These injuries to key starters could not come at a more inconvenient time for the Galaxy, who have three matches scheduled in the next 10 days, two of them being CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.

Next, the Galaxy will face C.S. Herediano in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, March 5.