Galaxy forced to settle for 1-1 draw in home opener
CARSON >> The Galaxy finally made it home for the 2023 season, but even at home, not all is well.
A pregame protest by the team's supporters group, approximately 250 people, got underway approximately an hour before kickoff, protesting the front office. It is a topic that the players and coach Greg Vanney have dealt with since the early days of preseason.
“Between myself, everyone in the building, the guys downstairs, we're focused on our opponents, we're focused on our season, focused on our training environment, we have a lot of things we're focusing our attention on,” Vanney said Thursday. “We're all pushing in the same direction and what we want to do is be successful and we want to win games and win championships.”
On the field, in front of a subdued 23,112 at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy (0-1-2, two points) scored three goals, but two were disallowed, leaving the game in a 1-1 draw Saturday.
Vancouver had two late chances, one off the post and another forced Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann into a leaping one-handed save to preserve the point.
The last potential goal came in the 83rd minute by Dejan Joveljic, but referee Victor Rivas ruled the ball came off of Joveljic's arm for a handball.
The Galaxy scored the equalizer in the fourth minute of a 10-minute extra time period in the first half on a Kelvin Leerdam goal, sending the game into halftime tied at 1-1.
The Galaxy thought it had its first goal of the game in the 28th minute as Riqui Puig shot through traffic found its way into the net. However, in the build-up, Joveljic was ruled offside after Rivas went to the video review.
The Galaxy had to make an early switch as goalkeeper Jonathan Bond was subbed off after a collision with defender Raheem Edwards. Bond eventually got up and was holding his left shoulder. He was replaced by Klinsmann.
The Galaxy will be on the road next Saturday visiting the Portland Timbers.