After seven games without a victory, the LA Galaxy opened their MLS record of triumphs in 2023 by beating Austin 2-0 with goals from Mexican Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández and Spanish Riqui Puig.
Chicharito, who missed the first five games of the year due to injury, signed his first goal of the season taking advantage of a perfect pass from Dejan Joveljic and Puig sealed the win on a counterattack.
The Galaxy had just lost in the Los Angeles derby against Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in a lousy start to the year, but this victory gives them a breather. For its part, LAFC maintained its unbeaten record in MLS by drawing 1-1 at Nashville.
Hany Mukhtar, MVP of the league last year, put the hosts ahead in the first half taking advantage of a loose ball in the Los Angeles area while Denis Bouanga sealed the equalizer for LAFC in the second half with a sharp shot from outside the box.
LAFC opted for the rotations for this duel and the Mexican Carlos Vela was a substitute. Reigning MLS Cup champions, LAFC will face the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League semifinals.
The Philadelphia team beat Toronto 4-2 on Saturday with three goals from Mikal Uhre. For his part, Uruguayan Santiago Rodríguez scored a brace in New York City's 3-1 victory against Dallas FC. Rodríguez took advantage of a mistake by the Dallas defense to get his first goal with a good cross shot from outside the area and scored the other goal reaching the far post from behind.
The Brazilian Talles Magno completed the resounding victory of the New Yorkers while the Spanish José Martínez headed the goal of honor for the Texans.
Facing a Galaxy that is beginning to see the light, Inter Miami continues its journey in the desert and chained its sixth straight defeat by falling 1-0 against the Houston Dynamo. Things are not going well for the other Florida team either, an Orlando City that lost 3-1 against DC United.
In addition, Cincinnati beat the Portland Timbers 2-1 (Brazilian Sérgio Santos scored for the locals and Colombian Dairon Asprilla scored for the visitors) and Real Salt Lake thrashed the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 (Venezuelan Jefferson Savarino and the Colombian Andrés Gómez scored for the Utah team and the Argentine Cristian Espinoza scored from a free kick against the Californians),
Finally, Charlotte beat the Columbus Crew 1-0, the New England Revolution beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1, Montreal beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0, the Seattle Sounders defeated the Minnesota United and the Colorado Rapids saved a 1-1 draw against St. Louis City in the 92nd minute with a goal 'in extremis' from Colombian Michael Barrios.
