Gabriel Pec scored his thirteenth purpose of the season and added a pair of assists to elevate the LA Galaxy to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday evening in Carson, Calif.
Pec additionally was instrumental on the sequence resulting in a second-half personal purpose by Vancouver that put the Galaxy (17-7-7, 58 factors) in entrance for good as they prolonged their lead atop the Western Convention.
With second-place Actual Salt Lake settling for a draw on Saturday, the Galaxy now maintain a seven-point edge atop the West.
Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintsil additionally scored for LA, with Paintsil’s strike within the 69th minute making the Galaxy the primary workforce in MLS historical past to have 4 double-digit purpose scorers in a single season.
Brian White scored his 14th purpose of the yr to briefly pull Vancouver (13-9-7, 46 factors) inside one within the second half earlier than Sam Adekugbe added a late comfort tally for the Whitecaps, who noticed a four-match unbeaten streak come to an finish.
Pec opened the scoring within the thirty second minute on an assault created by Puig’s by way of ball to Dejan Joveljic, who noticed his effort denied.
Pec was first to the rebound on the proper aspect of the penalty space, the place he opened up his physique and, whereas in stride, curled a end round Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
Pec additionally performed a giant half in LA’s purpose 5 minutes after halftime, when after enjoying a give-and-go to get down the appropriate flank, he tried to pick Joveljic with a low cross.
Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter intervened however may solely flip the ball into his personal web from an ungainly place, resulting in the personal purpose.
White pulled a purpose again within the 63rd minute with a end from shut vary arrange by Berhalter.
However Paintsil restored the hosts’ two-goal benefit six minutes afterward a fast counterattack, with Pec working down the appropriate aspect to succeed in Puig’s ball earlier than organising a easy end with a low cross.
–Area Stage Media