LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, left, reacts after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljić (9) vies for the ball with Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Ranko Veselinović, right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, left, controls the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ralph Priso during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, center, controls the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus kicks the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Miki Yamane, front, moves the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, vies for the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, front, is fouled by Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Stuart Armstrong during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, center, looks on against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Vanni Sartini looks on against the LA Galaxy during the second half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, left, reacts after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Saturday, the Galaxy returned home and took a big step toward finishing first in the Western Conference.
Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil scored goals, the Galaxy received an own goal and Riqui Puig added a stoppage-time goal for a 4-2 win in front of 25,387 at Dignity Health Sports Park in the penultimate home game of the regular season.
The win gives the Galaxy (18-7-7, 58 points) a seven-point lead over second place Real Salt Lake, eight points over second-place Colorado and nine over fourth-place LAFC. RSL and Colorado had a game in hand, while LAFC has two.
The Galaxy have just three games remaining in the regular season (Oct. 2 at Colorado, Oct. 5 home against Austin FC and Oct. 19 at Houston Dynamo).
Vancouver did what many teams don’t dare to when playing the Galaxy at home. The Whitecaps started with a high pressure early, frustrating the Galaxy at times. The end result in the first half, was the Galaxy eventually finding their time and space, ending with a goal by Gabriel Pec, his 13th of the season.
Early in the second half, the Galaxy received a break as Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter was credited with an own goal, giving the Galaxy a 2-0 lead.
Despite trailing by two goals, the Whitecaps didn’t deter much from their plan and Brian White’s 63rd minute goal gave them life, cutting the score to 2-1.
However, as they’ve done so many times, the Galaxy had an answer. This time from Joseph Paintsil in the 69th minute to restore the two-goal advantage at 3-1. The goal was the second in consecutive games for Paintsil, giving him 10 this season.
The win improved the Galaxy’s home record to 12-1-3, the lone loss came at the Rose Bowl against LAFC. The Galaxy’s 58 points are the most by the club since 2014 (61 points). That team won the MLS Cup. The 18 wins are the most since the 2011 team that also won MLS Cup.
Vancouver scored near the end of stoppage time to make it 4-2. The third consecutive game that the Galaxy have had a 4-2 scoreline.
The first meeting between the teams was back in April with the Galaxy winning 3-1.
