CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy scored a big win and will carry loads of confidence into their midweek Campeones Cup Final against Liga MX Champion, Toluca, after a 4-1 home demolition of Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, September 27, 2025, led by Winger Joseph Paintsil.
Next up: @CampeonesCup ➡️ pic.twitter.com/tha5gTBRjw
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 28, 2025
The Ghanaian racked up a first-half hat trick to lead the way for LA, and his pass started the play for the Galaxy’s last goal, capped off by Diego Fagundez. And although Fagundez’s goal put the second-half dagger into SKC, this match was over by halftime courtesy of Painstil’s trio of strikes.
It was an emphatic victory for Head Coach Greg Vanney's team, who delivered a top performance despite their coach being absent from the touchline after finding himself suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Vanney’s assistant, Dan Calichman, presided over the impressive offensive display, but claims it was all in Vanney’s name.
“The guys were on today,” Calichman said of the win.
“Whether it was just a typical night that coach was out, I am sure that gave them incentive. They wanted to win for Greg, right, who was watching the game. I think that incentivized them.”
Apart from doing their coach proud, the win also leaves the Galaxy just one point behind DC United in the wooden spoon race, with one game in hand.
Vanney’s focus is elsewhere, however.
All eyes will be on Wednesday for the Galaxy, when they will play for a trophy, even though they still sit last in the Western Conference table.
Christian Argumedo - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Diego Fagundez (7) celebrates a goal during the LA Galaxy's 4-1 home win against Sporting KC, Saturday, September 27, 2025, in Carson, Calif.
“I think we need to keep our foot on the accelerator. Everybody needs to come hungry like we did today. I think everybody wanted to win,” Fagundez explained in a post-match press conference. The winger-turned-midfielder repeated the team's desire to win another trophy several times during his post-match interview, and downplayed his own personal achievement of inching ever closer to 80 goals and 80 assists (78, 79) with another assist.
Which is why a good performance was essential for the Galaxy.
While true that SKC and Toluca offer very different opposition, the mental boost this win should provide the current MLS Cup champion will be invaluable to their trophy aspirations.
From start to finish, LA showed verve and energy. They helped themselves out by taking their chances early and getting the first goal. They never looked threatened by SKC from that point on.
The Galaxy with the lead & have started strong in this match. Good things happen when LA scores first.
— El Escudero de LA (@ElEscuderoDeLA) September 28, 2025
'8 | 1-0 | #LAvSKC | #MLS | #LAGalaxy | #SportingKC |
“The players were really focused, because if we don't win this game our confidence going to the next game on Wednesday will be limited,” The hat-trick hero, Paintsil, offered on the upcoming match.
“I think everybody was fully focused to win this game so we can get the energy and the confidence to focus on the Wednesday game, and I think we did that as a team and as an individual.”
Paintsil is certainly firing on all cylinders and ready to go.
If the Galaxy winger can replicate just a small bit of Saturday night’s magic, the Galaxy might be celebrating a new trophy on Wednesday night.
