CARSON, Calif. — The weather had been threatening all day, but miraculously held out for the 9,011 fans in attendance for the midweek Concacaf Champions Cup matchup between the LA Galaxy and Costa Rica’s Herediano. And with Herediano holding a one-goal advantage in the home-and-home tie, the Galaxy had some work to do.
And it’s work they did.
Spurred on by energetic and determined play across the roster, the Galaxy were able to score four times — quadrupling their 2025 goal total in the process.
Overall, the Galaxy showed more energy, better movement, and a better plan up and down the field, as they had more than two-thirds of the possession and nearly all of the goals.
Harbor Miller, Isaiha Parente, Tucker Lepley, Gabriel Pec, and others shined on the night with creativity flowing through Lepley, Diego Fagundez, and Julian Aude.
The 4-1 scoreline was earned, deserved, and now, expected.
GOALS
NOTES & QUOTES
LEPLEY, FAGUNDEZ, AUDE DOMINATE LEFT SIDE
Sometimes movement and influence on the game don’t show up in the stats. Yes, Aude scored the Galaxy’s first goal of the night, but he did so much more than that. His arrival in the middle to score there was more of an aberration than anything else. But he picked the correct movement.
Lepley making his first start of the season for the Galaxy made run after run on the left side and every time he took a defender with him. I’m not sure the Galaxy ever passed him the ball on that run, but Fagundez and Aude both played off of it, leading to the Miguel Berry goal that started with Lepley driving through the defense.
“We play in a system where, you know, those runs I make, they’re unselfish runs,” Said Lepley. “You know, you don’t make those runs to get the ball every time, you make those runs so Diego (Fagundez) can have time. So Miguel (Berry) can show in that pocket, but it’s really just moving to help everybody.
“And you know, if I get the ball, great, I can make something happen, but I have full confidence in my teammates that if I make a run in the space opens up that they’re going to make the right decision.”
Finally, with added freedom Fagundez could find space, creativity, and danger. He moved and danced from the formation’s left side to the right. He’d find a moment to overload with Pec on the right, and as Vanney mentioned after the game, the Galaxy found those overloads.
HARBOR MILLER CONTINUES TO LEVEL UP
It would be wise to not expect too much from a 17-year-old making just his second-ever start for the Galaxy. But Harbor Miller isn’t a typical 17-year-old. The confidence exudes from him whether he’s on the field or talking to reporters.
Greg Vanney said as much in his post game. “And I think he’s just — he’s getting more comfortable,” Vanney explained. “He’s getting more confident, if that’s possible. But he’s certainly settling in, and the guys around him are getting more confident in him. You know, there were some times in the first game when he first played, I felt like we looked him off a little bit, and I think this time we delivered the ball to him in some of those situations.”
WINS ARE GOOD FOR THE VIBES
The Galaxy lost the first four games of the season, so getting back in the win column is hugely important. Players looked and talked more confidently after the win. Goalscorers need goals, and the Galaxy got another for Pec, one for Berry, and a big one at the end of the match for Christian Ramirez.
Getting Ramirez feeling more confident will only help the Galaxy. Because at times he’s looked out of sorts with the flow of the attack. But like anyone, finding success will only benefit the Socal native. And the Galaxy will need all of that confidence for the games ahead.
“It’s special,” Ramirez said of his first goal. “I took my jersey home and got it signed by everybody, so it’s something that I’ll cherish forever.
“It’s a relief off my shoulders and a blessing, because 30 days ago (when he first joined the Galaxy), I wouldn’t have ever thought I would score for this club, and now that I’m here to get the first one is… a dream come true, because I’m from this area. I grew up watching Landon (Donovan) Robbie (Keane), and like everybody, put that jersey on and score goals.”
