ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Sunday, June 11, 2023) – Down 1-0 in the 68th minute, the LA Galaxy fought back to earn a 1-1 draw on the road against St. Louis CITY SC at CITYPARK on Sunday afternoon. Daniel Aguirre scored the game-tying goal in the 86th minute of the match, while Douglas Costa recorded his first assist of the season as the Galaxy earned their second straight result on the road in league play dating back to May 31.
LA Galaxy Against St. Louis CITY SC
Sunday’s 2023 MLS Regular Season match between the LA Galaxy and St. Louis CITY SC marked the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, with the series tied 0-0-1. In 38 matches played against MLS clubs in their expansion year dating back to 1998, the LA Galaxy hold a record of 22-9-7.Galaxy Run Of Form
Following the match against St. Louis, the Galaxy improved to 2-1-1 (8 GF, 6 GA) in four matches played on the road across all competitions dating back to May 23. In nine matches played across all competitions dating back to May 10, the LA Galaxy hold a 4-4-1 record (13 GF, 14 GA).
Substitute Goals Scored
Aguirre’s second-half goal marked the LA Galaxy’s fifth goal scored by a substitute in league play and the eighth goal scored by a substitute across all competitions during the 2023 campaign. Notably, the Galaxy’s last three goals scored across all competitions dating back to June 7 have been scored by substitutes.
Goal-Scoring Plays
STL – Nicholas Gioacchini (Indiana Vassilev), 68th minute – Working down the left touch line, Indiana Vassilev’s cross into the penalty area found Nicholas Gioacchini, whose half-volleyed flick was looped into the far corner of the goal.
LA – Daniel Aguirre (Douglas Costa), 85th minute – Douglas Costa forced a turnover outside the 18-yard box and passed the ball to Preston Judd, who quickly played Costa down the left side of the penalty area. Costa then delivered a hard cross into the middle of the six-yard box to Daniel Aguirre, whose right-footed shot bounced past St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Bürki.
Postgame Notes
- Sunday’s 2023 MLS Regular Season match between the LA Galaxy and St. Louis CITY SC marked the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, with the series tied 0-0-1.
- In 38 matches against MLS clubs in their expansion year dating back to 1998, the LA Galaxy hold a record of 22-9-7.
- Following the match against St. Louis, the Galaxy improved to 2-1-1 (8 GF, 6 GA) in four matches played on the road across all competitions dating back to May 23.
- In nine matches played across all competitions dating back to May 10, the LA Galaxy hold a 4-4-1 record (13 GF, 14 GA).
- Daniel Aguirre’s second-half goal marked the LA Galaxy’s fifth goal scored by a substitute in league play and the eighth goal scored by a substitute across all competitions during the 2023 campaign.
- Notably, the Galaxy’s last three goals scored across all competitions dating back to June 7 have all been scored by substitutes.
- In 12 games played across all competitions dating back to April 22, the LA Galaxy have scored 16 goals. Notably, 15 of the 16 goals scored since April 22 have come in the second half of matches.
- The draw against St. Louis marked the first time in league play this season that the Galaxy earned a result after trailing in the 75th minute of the match (0-9-1).
- Daniel Aguirre scored his first goal in his 12th appearance in league play for LA during the 2023 campaign.
- Aguirre has recorded one goal and one assist in two games played across all competitions as a substitute dating back to June 7.
- In his first league start since April 29th, Douglas Costa finished the match with an assist, a team-high three chances created and won nine duels and two tackles in 89 minutes played.
- Costa has tallied one goal and one assist in two games played across all competitions dating back to June 7.
- Efraín Álvarez made his 100th career appearance across all competitions for LA, becoming the youngest player to hit that milestone for the Galaxy in the draw against CITY SC.
- Jonathan Bond moved into third place all-time in LA Galaxy history with 242 MLS regular-season saves after making five stops in the match against St. Louis.
- Gastón Brugman recorded a game-high 14 possessions won, four tackles won, two interceptions, two chances created and completed 56 of 65 passes (86.2%).
- The match against St. Louis CITY SC marked LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney’s 49th birthday.
Next Game
Following the international break, the LA Galaxy return to league action by playing host to Sporting Kansas City at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday, June 21. The match on June 21 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
2023 MLS Regular Season
LA Galaxy (3-9-4, 13pts) at St. Louis CITY SC (9-5-2, 29pts)
Sunday, June 11, 2023 – CITYPARK (St. Louis, Mo.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 0 1 1
St. Louis CITY SC 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
STL: Gioacchini (Vassilev), 68
LA: Aguirre (Costa), 85
Misconduct Summary:
STL: Löwen (caution), 8
STL: Blom (caution), 40
STL: Alm (caution), 45+4
LA: Brugman (caution), 52
LA: Neal (caution), 54
STL: Ostrak (caution), 83
Lineups:
LA: GK Jonathan Bond; D Calegari (Kelvin Leerdam, 78), D Jalen Neal (Chris Mavinga, 78), D Martín Cáceres, D Julián Aude, M Mark Delgado, M Gastón Brugman ©, M Riqui Puig, M Tyler Boyd (Daniel Aguirre, 78), M Douglas Costa (Efraín Álvarez, 90+2); F Dejan Joveljić (Preston Judd, 78)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Raheem Edwards, D Eriq Zavaleta; M Gino Vivi
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Riqui Puig, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Riqui Puig 2); FOULS: 8 (Gastón Brugman, 2); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 5
STL: GK Roman Bürki ©; D Jake Nerwinski, D Njabulo Blom, D Kyle Hiebert; D Lucas Bartlett, D Tim Parker; M Jared Stroud (Aziel Jackson, 78), M Eduard Löwen, M Rasmus Alm (Celio Pompeu, 56); F Nicholas Gioacchini, F Indiana Vassilev (Tomas Ostrak, 78)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Ben Lundt; D Jonathan Bell, D John Nelson, D Josh Yaro, M Isak Jensen, M Miguel Perez
TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Eduard Löwen, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Jared Stroud, 2); FOULS: 15 (Lucas Bartlett, 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 4
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistant Referees: Diego Blas, Claudiu Badea
Fourth Official: Jeremy Scheer
VAR: Jair Marrufo
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 66 degrees
Attendance: 22,423
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH AND SPORTING DIRECTOR GREG VANNEY
On a difficult week for the team coming off the Javier “Chicharito” Hernández news, how they processed that, looked forward to the game on the weekend and getting a result:
“I think the group is, in a way, just rolling up our sleeves, and we have to deal with whatever we have to deal with now. The games are coming and they’re going, and we’ve got to take points, and we don’t have time to get too caught up in things that are happening. We processed the Javier [Hernández] situation the last few days, obviously, when we got the final news. But also, guys even the day of the game. But just processed all of that information and then once we got here, we just really had to focus on what we needed to do today. I was proud of the guys. In two road games, in two very difficult places to play, leaguewide, we’ve taken four points out of those two very difficult road games. And, today, quite honestly, we should have played 60 minutes up a man. The fact that they had 11 guys on the field at the end of this game is comical, in my opinion, it’s not hard. We just can’t get anything like that to go for us right now. So, we had to grind and battle for everything that we get, and, tonight, the guys did it. And they stuck in it after giving up a goal. And it was a hell of a touch by their player. Obviously it was an incredible touch and finish. But the guys stuck with it. The subs, they came out to impact the game. To change the game and get the goal. And we saw it out. But what a huge effort by the guys. I was super proud of them today. And most days.” _
On Douglas Costa in his first start with the team since April:
“I was proud of him and impressed that he went as long as he did. In my head, I was like, okay, we’re going to get to 45 minutes and I’m going to check in with him. He said he was doing aright. 60 minutes, I looked at him again. I still felt he could create something in the game, so, as I was considering substitutions, I feel like if we were going to break out and get something, it was probably going to be through him, so I didn’t want to rush through him. He said he was oaky. I was pleased. He had some good, impactful moments inside of the game. Again, he has such quality to get us out of situations sometimes. Especially against a team that likes to press and they’re putting numbers around the ball. He obviously has some wiggle and just has some creativity to get you out of situations from time to time. So, for a first start, to get 89 plus, maybe 91 minutes out of him was a big pull from him. And he played a part, obviously, in the goal that equalizes the game. And it’s late in the game. He’s going to keep getting fitter, and his legs underneath him more. And hopefully he can keep seeing more of those moments in the course of games.”
On Daniel Aguirre scoring his first goal, and how important his role off the bench is to this side:
“Daniel [Aguirre] has been great. He’s just kind of that Mr. Reliable, and I’ve used him in different ways. Today, I brought him on as a left winger, knowing that he’ll find his way into the box. He’ll get inside and help us keep possession. He’ll get us out of some build outs sometimes through just solid, clean play. And, I can use him in so many different ways. That’s a benefit and a curse for him a little bit sometimes, because having him as a tool that I can use off the bench in different ways is almost a luxury at times. But, the kid just keeps trekking, and, honestly, he probably deserves mor minutes, but he uses minutes wisely, and because he’s such a Swiss army knife for us, I’ve tried to keep him sometimes and use him in ways that the team needs, and he’s been great. Fantastic. And keeps progressing as a player and has a calm, present demeanor that really serves him well in any environment. I couldn’t be happier for him to get a goal in this one and help his team.”
On Javier Hernández’s road to recovery and status update, and insights on roster decisions and building moving forward:
_“In regards to Javi [Javier Hernández], he’ll spend a couple weeks just kind of rehabbing, trying to get the swelling out, doing the strengthening stuff as much as he can. Then I think he’s tentatively scheduled to have a surgery two weeks from now. Then he’ll be into the rehab. Which, is a long, slog and grind. And he’s a guy that will do the work, so that’s what his next sort of couple weeks, and probably five to six months is going to look like. So, we’re here to support him, and through that process. As far as the summer window, we’re going to look at every resource that we have. Both inside the league… We can’t do transfers, so we’re going to be looking inside the league. Players who are free when the window closes. And we’ll try to use the resources, all the resources, that we have at our disposal to keep adding to this group. The core group of players that we’re trying to build. I would suspect that most things we’re trying to do, are going to try to fit into the group in the long term. It’s probably not going to be things that are just to get us through the next six months, unless something unique shows. But everything that we’re trying to do is build a core group of players that can be competitive year in and year out and compete for titles and championships and stuff like that. We’re in the stages of that. We’re certainly not in the final stages of that. So, we’re going to try to keep focused on that process.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER DANIEL AGUIRRE
On when he was aware that Douglas Costa won the ball back, was starting the attack and what he saw during the play:
“I mean, it was honestly just quick. A turnover and then Preston [Judd] just turned with the ball and played Douglas [Costa] out wide. Preston was out of obviously the nine spot, so I just saw the space in there, and I just wanted for them to play the ball across.” _
On how difficult this week has been for the collective team, with the Javier Hernández news, having to travel without their captain and facing a tough environment at CITYPARK and how they responded:
“Well, we played on Wednesday, so it was a quick turnaround. But, it kills us. You know? To not have Javier [Hernández] out there. Chicha is a big part of this group. It’s someone we obviously look up to. We follow as a leader. So, it was big to lose him. And, this game was honestly for him. We wish he was out here with us.”
On Greg Vanney praising his skill as being a Swiss army knife, and what it means to have Vanney’s confidence in him:
_“I’m happy. Getting his trust. Like you said, Swiss army knife on the field, I’m able to play a lot of positions. I haven’t been stuck to one position this year. You guys have obviously seen me out wide, in the middle, kind of as a wingback. Wherever I play, I’m happy. I want to help the team out. Get wins. And that’s all.”
