Winless Galaxy Aim to Slow Down High-Octane Orlando City
LOS ANGELES — The LA Galaxy will attempt to earn their first victory of the season when they host MLS-leading scorers Orlando City SC on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.
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Injuries and Inconsistency Holding Back Galaxy
The Galaxy (0-3-2, 2 points) are still trying to rediscover their winning formula from last year’s impressive playoff run, but injuries have complicated the process. Star midfielder Riqui Puig remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury, and offseason addition Joseph Paintsil is just returning to full training after missing nearly two months with a quad issue.
Veteran forward Christian Ramirez has provided a bright spot, scoring in consecutive games including last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Minnesota United. That performance marked the first time all season the Galaxy have scored more than one goal in a match.
“We’ve had to navigate a lot of missing pieces,” said LA coach Greg Vanney. “The effort has been there, but we need more sharpness in both boxes.”
Orlando’s Offense Firing on All Cylinders
Orlando City (2-2-1, 7 points) arrive in California with confidence and momentum, having scored a league-high 13 goals in five matches. The Lions’ front line has been dominant, led by newcomer Marco Pasalic’s four goals and strong contributions from Martin Ojeda (3 goals) and Luis Muriel (2 goals).
“We are taking advantage of the talent we’ve brought in,” Orlando coach Oscar Pareja said. “We’ve worked hard to become more aggressive in the final third, and it’s paying off.”
Orlando’s latest result was a 4-1 rout of D.C. United, a match that also saw backup goalkeeper Javier Otero make five saves in place of Peru international Pedro Gallese.
Despite the offensive firepower, Orlando’s defensive form remains a concern. They’ve conceded 11 goals — second-most in MLS — and are still seeking more balance between attacking ambition and defensive discipline.
Key Matchup: Galaxy Defense vs. Pasalic and Ojeda
With the Galaxy still finding their attacking identity, slowing down Orlando’s relentless front three will be key. The back line, which has been inconsistent through five matches, will need to stay compact and avoid the kind of turnovers and transitional gaps Orlando thrives on.
LA has historically fared well at home and will be desperate to flip the script in front of their fans, especially with Paintsil potentially returning to provide a needed spark.
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Outlook
This matchup could turn into a shootout if LA can capitalize on Orlando’s defensive lapses, but the visitors’ superior attacking rhythm puts pressure on Vanney’s side to execute cleanly and limit mistakes. The Galaxy are overdue for a complete performance — and they’ll need one to keep pace with the most prolific attack in MLS.