Marco Reus Delivers Late Heroics, But Sporting KC Spoils Galaxy’s Night in Carson
Marco Reus Delivers Late Heroics, But Sporting KC Spoils Galaxy’s Night in Carson
The LA Galaxy entered Saturday’s match against Sporting Kansas City looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss, but despite a late moment of magic from German legend Marco Reus, the night belonged to the visitors. Sporting KC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Dignity Health Sports Park, marking their first win of the 2026 season and the maiden victory for new head coach Raphael Wicky. The narrative of the night was dominated by "the return," as former Galaxy marksman Dejan Joveljic haunted his old club with a goal and an assist.
Joveljic, who scored 34 goals for the Galaxy between 2021 and 2024, opened the scoring two minutes into first-half stoppage time. After a sumptuous ball over the top from Manu García, Joveljic drove into the box and curled an inch-perfect finish past Novak Micovic. The Serbian striker chose to keep his celebrations muted out of respect for the Carson faithful, but his impact was undeniable. He later turned provider in the 74th minute, setting up Lasse Berg Johnsen for a debut goal that doubled Sporting’s lead and seemingly put the game out of reach.
Reus Sparks a Late Revival
The Galaxy, missing the suspended Gabriel Pec and the injured Joseph Paintsil, struggled to find their usual attacking rhythm for much of the match. However, with ten minutes remaining, the veteran presence of Marco Reus began to shift the momentum. In the 82nd minute, after a frantic sequence that saw two Galaxy shots hit the post, Reus finally broke through, rising high to head home an unassisted effort from close range. It was his first goal of the 2026 season and the seventh of his MLS career, sparking hope for a late comeback.
The closing stages were a frantic affair as the Galaxy piled on the pressure. Reus and Joao Klauss both saw half-chances blocked by a desperate Sporting KC defense. John Pulskamp was called into action multiple times, finishing the night with four critical saves. Despite the barrage of crosses and set pieces in the final minutes, the Sporting backline held firm, ending a dismal seven-match losing streak on the road that had dated back to last season. For Wicky, the tactical decision to start the newly-signed Johnsen proved to be the difference-maker.
Looking at the Roster and Stats
The Galaxy’s roster depth was tested tonight, and the absence of Pec was felt in the lack of wide-area explosiveness. Novak Micovic performed admirably in goal, keeping the team in the match with several acrobatic stops, but the defense was twice caught out by Joveljic’s movement. The Galaxy now sit at 1-2-1 for the season, a worrying trend after a strong opening day. Their last game result was a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Colorado, meaning they have now conceded six goals in their last two outings.
Sporting KC moves to 1-2-1, finally finding the win column after being shut out twice in the first three weeks. The emergence of Manu García as a playmaker—now reaching 50 career professional assists—alongside Joveljic gives Kansas City fans hope that the 2026 season is back on track. For the Galaxy, a difficult road trip to face the Portland Timbers is up next, where manager Greg Vanney will desperately need his star attackers to return to fitness if they are to keep pace in a competitive Western Conference.
