Joveljic’s late goal lifts Galaxy over Nashville

CARSON » All of the concerns that Galaxy coach Greg Vanney had about trying to break down the Nashville SC defense played out Saturday.

Nashville SC, one of the stingiest teams in Major League Soccer, lived up to that reputation, frustrating the Galaxy.

That is, until the 87th minute.

With the Galaxy dominating possession throughout the second half, the breakthrough came as Dejan Joveljic beat Joe Willis with a shot from the left wing to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead and eventual win in front of 26,674 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Sega Coulilbaly kept the play alive, getting the ball to Derrick Williams. Williams was surrounded by two Nashville SC defenders but managed to send it out to Joveljic, who did the rest.

This was the first time the Galaxy (5-2-1, 16 points)

GALAXY 1, NASHVILLE 0 Up next: Galaxy at Real Salt Lake, Saturday, 12:30 p.m., TUDN, Univision

had played Nashville SC, which entered the league in 2020 and spent the first two seasons in the Eastern Conference. The teams will meet again Sept. 10 at GEODIS Park in Tennessee.

Last season, Nasvhille SC allowed just 33 goals in 34 games. Nashville, which opened the season with eight consecutive road games, ended the stretch with 11 points (3-3-2).

The first half went as expected as the Galaxy spent the 45 minutes attempting to break down the Nashville stout defensive backline.

The Galaxy thought they had grounds for a penalty midway through the first half as Kevin Cabral was tracking down a loose ball in the penalty area and was taken down by a Nashville SC defender who was attempting to clear the ball.

Referee Allen Chapman didn’t rule it a penalty.

It could be said that the Galaxy were the only team in the attacking half of the field in the second half. For long stretches, the Galaxy had Nashville SC pinned in its own half.

In the final stats, the Galaxy had nearly 70% of possession.

In the 81st minute, it almost worked for the Galaxy as Chicharito Hernandez played a 1-2 with Raheem Edwards, got behind the defense and got a shot off. But Willis made a kick save to end the threat.

That set the stage for Joveljic, who entered the game in the 77th, replacing Kevin Cabral.

This is Joveljic’s second season with the Galaxy. Last season he joined the club in the summer and played in 14 games. Before tonight, he had made just six appearances.

This is the Galaxy’s fifth clean sheet of the season and third consecutive, when factoring in Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup win over San Diego Loyal SC.