CARSON, Calif. -- The youngsters led the way for the LA Galaxy as Harbor Miller and Elijah Wynder got their first MLS goals on either side of halftime in a 3-0 home demolition of the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
The first-year Galaxy players were just two standouts in a collective strong performance from a heavily-rotated side that LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney can take great heart from.
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— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 24, 2025
“Tonight was a night I saw a ton of progress that maybe we haven't seen in other games for some of the guys, but with a real opportunity from the start you see that some of the guys are making a ton of progress,” Vanney told The Sporting Tribune in the Galaxy’s post match press conference.
Miller, who played as a winger instead of his usual left-back position, set the tone early for the Galaxy by getting on the end of a well-worked passing move by Miki Yamane and Tucker Lepley.
“Honestly, I sort of like hit the ball and I don't even remember where I hit the back of the net. I just knew it was going in and I kind of just blacked out and just ran into the corner and celebrated like it was one of the best goals of my life,” the 18-year-old said of his first goal.
Wynder added to Miller’s 14th minute strike by executing a surging run into Colorado’s box early in the second half. He and Yamane exchanged passes for the midfielder to get free and guide the Galaxy’s second goal home for the 2-0 lead.
Substitute Gabriel Pec scored the Galaxy’s third to put the game out of reach in the 75th minute.
He, Joseph Painstil, and Marco Reus were part of a large group of Galaxy players to see little time against the Rapids in preparation for a pivotal match this Wednesday.
With an eye towards a midweek Leagues Cup semifinal, the Galaxy boss’ rotated lineup included handing Midfielder Edwin Cerrillo the captain’s armband for the first time and giving Defender Chris Rindov his MLS debut.
Amber Rodriguez – The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski (12) punches the ball away during the Galaxy's 3-0 home win against the Colorado Rapids, Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Carson, California.
Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski, recently made the new Galaxy backup keeper since John McCarthy’s transfer to New York, was also given his Galaxy debut and earned a shutout in his first official match for the MLS Cup champions.
For Marcinkowski, it was a welcome return to soccer after not having completed 90 minutes since 2023 due to injury.
“It was a long, long process with a lot of ups and downs, and a lot of questioning, I think my path forward,” Marcinkowski explained.
“I'm super thankful for the people I had around me, my physical therapist, my entire support team, my fiancée, my family. This night is just as much for them as it is for me.”
It was also a night to enjoy for Galaxy fans, who got to see LA earn a shutout for the first time since a win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on July Fourth by a similar scoreline.
Now the Galaxy will try to take that good feeling and momentum into their semifinal matchup against the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.
Vanney believes the Galaxy’s performance against Colorado was just the kind of game the team needed to have before a crucial semifinal. He also drew several positives from the shutout win.
“It was a fun night. We haven't had a ton of those this year,” Vanney admitted.
"Built some momentum and confidence for the group as we go into a huge night on Wednesday. We got some guys rested and get some guys ready to go…. “It's going to be a really tough game Wednesday, but to have this as a foundation to build off is nice. Proud of these guys."
