LA Galaxy Starting XI: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Jalen Neal, D Maya Yoshida ©, D John Nelson; M Riqui Puig, M Edwin Cerrillo, M Marco Reus, M Diego Fagundez, M Gabriel Pec, F Dejan Joveljić
Substitutes: GK Novak Mićović; D Mauricio Cuevas, D Emiro Garces, D Eriq Zavaleta, M Gastón Brugman, M Mark Delgado, M Isaiah Parente, F Miguel Berry, F Ruben Ramos Jr.
Lineup Notes:
- 2022 MLS Cup MVP John McCarthy makes his 27th league appearance during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against LAFC. The Philadelphia, Penn., native made three saves and posted his sixth shutout of the 2024 campaign in the 2-0 win at home over Atlanta United FC on Aug .24. McCarthy has posted six shutouts and ranks third in MLS with 106 saves in 26 appearances (26 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 28th league appearance (28th start) during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against LAFC. 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, 21, makes his 16th appearance (13th start) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season in the match against LAFC. Neal has tallied one goal in 39 career appearances (32 starts) across all competitions for the LA Galaxy (2022-Present).
- Japanese International defender Maya Yoshida, who scored in the 4-2 loss against LAFC at BMO Stadium on Sept. 16, 2023, starts alongside Neal in the center of defense. Yoshida, who has recorded two goals in 28 league appearances (28 starts) during the 2024 campaign, has tallied three goals in 42 career matches played (42 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 11th start (21st appearance) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s match against LAFC. Nelson notched his first assist for LA in the 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers on July 20. Nelson tallied one assist in 17 appearances (14 starts) for St. Louis CITY SC during the 2023 MLS Regular Season. The Medina, Ohio, native has recorded five assists in 88 career MLS appearances (53 starts) across six seasons played in the league (2019-24).
- Edwin Cerrillo makes his 32nd appearance (24th start) across all competitions for LA this season in tonight’s match against LAFC. Cerrillo has notched seven assists in 126 games played (91 starts) in six seasons played in MLS (2019-Present). Notably, Cerrillo ranks second in MLS behind only Darlington Nagbe (96.36%) with a 95.57% pass completion percentage (min. 1,000 minutes played) during the 2024 campaign.
- Riqui Puig, a 2024 MLS All-Star, starts in tonight’s match against LAFC. During the 2024 campaign, Puig has 20 goal contributions (9 goals, 11 assists) in 23 appearances (22 starts) and leads all players in MLS this season in touches (2,468), passes attempted (2,230), passes completed (1,967), fouls suffered (64) and multi-assist performances (4). Notably, Puig has scored in three consecutive league matches played (3 goals, 1 assist) dating back to July 17.
- Marco Reus makes his first start at home for the LA Galaxy in tonight’s match against LAFC. Reus, who tallied a goal and an assist in his MLS and LA Galaxy debut in the 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC on Aug. 24. Notably, the Dortmund, Germany, native is the first player in club history to register a goal and an assist off the bench in their regular-season debut for the Galaxy.
- 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 LAFC. Fagundez, who has totaled 149 goal contributions (73 goals, 76 assists) in 386 career MLS appearances (286 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 31 appearances (20 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy during the 2024 campaign.
- Brazilian youth international and 2024 MLS All-Star forward Gabriel Pec, 23, who has 24 goal contributions (13 goals, 11 assists) in 30 appearances (27 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy this season, starts on the right wing in tonight’s match. In 11 matches played (11 starts) across all competitions dating back to June 29, Pec has totaled 11 goal contributions (7 goals, 4 assists). Notably, Pec has recorded nine goals and eight assists in 14 games played at home (12 starts) during the 2024 campaign. Pec is one of six players in MLS this year to record at least 11 goals and 10 assists (Cristian Arango, Lionel Messi, Cucho Hernandez, Luciano Acosta, Evander). Pec scored a goal in the 2-1 loss to LAFC at Rose Bowl Stadium on July 4, 2024.
- Serbian National Team forward Dejan Joveljić, 25, makes his first start for LA dating back July 7. Joveljić has 17 goal contributions (12 goals, 5 assists) in 22 appearances (18 starts) during the 2024 MLS Regular Season for the LA Galaxy. Notably, Joveljić has notched six goals and three assists in 10 matches played at DHSP in 2024
