LA Galaxy routs Charlotte behind Klauss’ brace

CARSON, Calif. — For weeks, the message emanating from the Galaxy locker room has been one of change. The 2026 club could not suffer from the same sluggish starts that plagued last year’s campaign. 

After three straight draws combined from MLS and Concacaf play, things started to look more of the same.

Then, the Galaxy transformed Brazilian Heritage Night at Dignity Health Sports Park into a full-blown festival on the way to a 3-0 rout of Charlotte FC, putting a stamp on their fourth match in 10 days.

“It was good stuff for everybody. It’s not often we see the final game in that stretch where teams come out and just jump on somebody like that,” coach Greg Vanney said.

Any concerns about another slow start were quickly incinerated in a 13-minute opening spell from LA.

“The message in the locker room going out was, ‘Let’s win the first 15 minutes,’” Vanney explained. “I thought we defended well, I thought we attacked well so [I’m] really pleased because it’s been a long week of just quickly getting game to game.”

The onslaught began in the eighth minute. A strike from Brazilian national Gabriel Pec clattered off the far post, but the rebound fell kindly for Lucas Sanabria, who was on hand to slot home the simplest of openers.

The lead was doubled just three minutes later. Pec slid a pass to fellow countryman João Klauss, who made no mistake from close range.

“I thought [Pec] was flying tonight,” Vanney said of his DP.

Klauss would complete the brace after Charlotte defender Andrew Privett’s attempt to play out from the back was read a split-second too late. 

Klauss stepped in front of the pass, intercepted possession, and marched forward to beat the goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into a rapture that would sustain through a scoreless remainder of the half.

The final 45 minutes were more of a formality, a countdown to the final whistle. 

Erik Thommy was on the bench for the Galaxy for the first time since arriving over Winter, but he did not make his debut for LA against Charlotte.

“He’s probably ready to go, but also to be fair to Erik, he’s gone through maybe one full training session,” Vanney explained. “We’ve got a lot to come in the net couple of weeks but he can only benefit from a good, solid week of training.”

Starting with the Galaxy’s next match against the Rapids, LA will play five matches in a 16-day span, which should provide ample opportunity for Thommy to make his Galaxy debut.

Next, the Galaxy will be back on the pitch Mar. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in Colorado against the Rapids.