LA Galaxy Starting XI: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Jalen Neal, D Maya Yoshida ©, D John Nelson; M Edwin Cerrillo, M Mark Delgado, M Diego Fagundez, M Riqui Puig, M Gabriel Pec, F Joseph Paintsil
Substitutes: GK Brady Scott; D Mauricio Cuevas, D Eriq Zavaleta, M Gastón Brugman, M Tucker Lepley, M Isaiah Parente, M Marco Reus, F Miguel Berry, F Dejan Joveljić
Lineup Notes:
- 2022 MLS Cup MVP John McCarthy makes his 25th league appearance during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against Atlanta United FC. The Philadelphia, Penn., native made two saves in the 3-2 win at home over the Portland Timbers on July 20. McCarthy has posted five shutouts and logged 100 saves in 24 appearances (24 starts) for the Galaxy during the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
- Japanese International defender Miki Yamane, who recorded his seventh assist of the 2024 campaign across all competitions in the 2-1 Leagues Cup Group Stage win over the San Jose Earthquakes on July 31, makes his 26th league appearance (26th start) during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against Atlanta. Yamane was named to the J1 League Best XI in three consecutive seasons (2020, 2021, 2022), and helped Kawasaki Frontale earn two J1 League titles (2021, 2020), two Emperor’s Cup titles (2020, 2023) and one Japanese Super Cup (2021).
- LA Galaxy Academy product and U.S. National Team defender Jalen Neal, whose birthday is today and turned 21, makes his 14th appearance (11th start) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season in tonight’s match against Atlanta United FC. Neal has tallied one goal in 37 career appearances (30 starts) across all competitions for the LA Galaxy (2022-Present).
- Japanese International defender Maya Yoshida, whose birthday is today and turned 36, captains the Galaxy in tonight’s match against Atlanta. Yoshida, who has recorded two goals in 26 league appearances (26 starts) during the 2024 campaign, has tallied three goals in 40 career matches played (40 starts) across all comps for LA (2023-Present). Notably, Yoshida played in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) for the Japanese National Team.
- John Nelson makes his ninth start (19th appearance) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against Atlanta. Nelson notched his first assist for LA in the 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers on July 20. The Medina, Ohio, native has recorded five assists in 86 career MLS appearances (51 starts) across six seasons played in the league (2019-24).
- Edwin Cerrillo makes his 30th appearance (23nd start) across all competitions for LA this season in tonight’s league match against Atlanta. Cerrillo has notched seven assists in 124 games played (90 starts) in six seasons played in MLS (2019-Present). Notably, Cerrillo ranks second in MLS behind only Darlington Nagbe (96.63%) with a 95.49% pass completion percentage (min. 800 minutes played) during the 2024 campaign.
- Mark Delgado, who tallied an assist off the bench in the 2-2 regulation tie (5-4 Penalty-Kick Win) against C.D. Guadalajara in Leagues Cup play on Aug. 4, starts in midfield in tonight’s match. Delgado has tallied one goal and seven assists in 28 games played (26 starts) across all comps for LA this season. Notably, Delgado has tallied 22 goals and 37 assists in 302 career games played (265 starts) across 13 seasons in MLS (2012-Present). Additionally, Delgado ranks first amongst all MLS players in distance covered in possession (123.75 km) and second in total distance covered (298.68 km) behind only Cole Bassett (321.13 km) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season.
- Diego Fagundez, who recorded a goal in the 2-1 Leagues Cup Group Stage win over the San Jose Earthquakes on July 31 , starts on the left wing in tonight’s match against Atlanta United FC. Notably, the Galaxy hold a 10-1-5 record in each of Fagundez’s 16 starts in league play during the 2024 campaign. Fagundez, who has totaled 149 goal contributions (73 goals, 76 assists) in 384 career MLS appearances (284 starts), ranks 16th all-time in league history in regular-season games played. Fagundez is one of 10 players in MLS history to record at least 70 goals and 70 assists. Fagundez has tallied five goals and five assists in 29 appearances (18 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy during the 2024 campaign.
- Riqui Puig, a 2024 MLS All-Star, starts in tonight’s match against Atlanta. During the 2024 campaign, Puig has 19 goal contributions (8 goals, 11 assists) in 22 league appearances (21 starts) and leads all players in MLS this season in touches (2,336), passes attempted (2,111), passes completed (1,862), fouls suffered (61) and multi-assist performances (4). The Matadepera, Spain, native is one of five players in MLS this season (Arango, Messi, Acosta, Evander) to tally at least eight goals and 11 assists during the 2024 campaign. In his last four league appearances dating back to July 7, Puig has tallied two goals and three assists.
- Brazilian youth international and 2024 MLS All-Star forward Gabriel Pec, 23, who has 23 goal contributions (12 goals, 11 assists) in 28 appearances (25 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy this season, starts on the right wing in tonight’s match. In 12 matches played across all competitions dating back to June 15, Pec has totaled 15 goal contributions (8 goals, 7 assists). Pec is one of five players in MLS this year to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists (Arango, Messi, Acosta, Evander).
- Ghanian National Team forward Joseph Paintsil, 26, who recorded a goal and two assists in the 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers on July 20, starts up top in tonight’s match against Atlanta. Paintsil has 17 goal contributions (8 goals, 9 assists) in 22 appearances (20 starts) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season for the LA Galaxy. Notably, Paintsil has totaled six goal contributions (2 goals, 4 assists) in his last two league appearances for LA dating back to July 17.
