Galaxy’s 3-goal, 1st half outburst leads to win over Charlotte FC

CARSON — The Galaxy are officially ahead of last year’s pace.

Thanks to a three-goal outburst inside of the first 15 minutes, the Galaxy picked up their first MLS win of the season, defeating Charlotte FC 3-0 in front of 20,205 at the Dignity Health Sports Park.

“The message going out was to win the first 15 minutes,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “We wanted to start with energy and intensity, with it being the fourth game in 10 days.

“I thought it was two (goals), but it was three inside the 15, so that was great. I was pleased with the energy. Felt like we unlocked some things tonight that felt a little bit slow in some of the other games.”

Last year, the Galaxy’s first MLS win didn’t come until May 31 after going 0-12-4.

Saturday was just the second MLS game of the season and it came at the end of a taxing four-game, 10-day stretch, which included their CONCACAF Champions Cup opening series against Sporting San Miguelito.

The scoring barrage started in the eighth minute as Lucas Sanabria slammed home a rebound off a Gabriel Pec shot that hit the post and rolled away from Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

After that came a João Klauss double. Klauss, who scored in the season opener against New York City FC last Sunday, was hunting for a hat trick early after scoring in the 11th and 13th minutes.

Klauss’ first goal came as he poked home a cross from Pec to make it 2-0, and on the second, Klauss beat a pair of Charlotte FC defenders and slotted the ball past Kahlina for the 3-0 lead. The play started on a Charlotte FC throw-in, and the second ball was intercepted by Klauss, starting his run toward goal.

The Galaxy said a club record was set with the three goals coming in the first 12 minutes, 14 seconds of the game. The previous record was set in 2019 with three goals in 16 minutes (Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the second and 15th minutes and Cristian Pavon in the 16th minute).

The early outburst was a far cry from the first three games of the season. In those games, including two in CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Galaxy managed just two goals. Two of the games saw the Galaxy (1-0-1, four points) dominate possession, but were unable to capitalize on it.

“We’re setting a mentality in this locker room that we have to be a good defending team,” Vanney said. “Everybody loves to attack in that locker room. I need to make sure they concentrated on the defending, because the attacking side, they all want to do that. I think you put teams away by making sure they get nothing, they build no momentum, they have nothing they can believe in as the game progresses. That’s how you bury them ultimately.”

Probably more satisfying for the Galaxy was the shutout. The Galaxy limited Charlotte FC to just one shot on goal in the first half. Novak Mićović came up with a kick save to keep the shutout intact. Charlotte FC didn’t threaten the Galaxy defense much after that. In fact, that early attempt was Charlotte FC’s only shot on goal. The Galaxy have allowed only one goal in two league games and just two in their four games in both MLS and Champions Cup.

“I feel good, we are still progressing and I feel like we can improve many things, how to avoid pressure, how to distribute, how to chase the opponent,” Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida said. “The kind of details we missed last season. Since preseason, we’re very careful and organized and talking a lot. Things are working well so far.

“It’s too early to talk about these kind of things after four games, but I feel good so far. We are progressing so far.

The Galaxy nearly had a fourth goal, but Matheus Nascimento’s goal in the 82nd minute was called off due to an offside ruling.

Kahlina was credited with nine saves, highlighting just how much pressure the Galaxy put on the Charlotte FC defense throughout the night.

The Galaxy will be back in action March 7 on the road against the Colorado Rapids. The month of March is again a busy one, with the Galaxy resuming Champions Cup, along with three MLS games.

Marco Reus signs extension

Friday, the Galaxy announced that midfielder Marco Reus had signed a contract extension through December of 2027. Reus, who is in his second full season in MLS and with the Galaxy, was in the final year of his initial 2½-year deal when he joined in 2024.

Reus came on as a sub Saturday in the 66th minute.