Tyler Boyd and Riqui Puig scored goals and the Los Angeles Galaxy continued their dominance of the Philadelphia Union with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night in Carson, Calif.
The Galaxy's other tally came on an own goal by Philadelphia's Olivier Mbaizo as they increased their unbeaten stretch to seven matches (3-0-4).
Los Angeles (5-9-7, 22 points) improved to 9-1-3 all-time against the Union. Philadelphia's only win in the series came on July 4, 2012.
Riqui Puig goal vs. Philadelphia Union
Riqui Puig banger! pic.twitter.com/krl4uuAUob
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 9, 2023
QUE GOLAZOOOO @RiquiPuig pic.twitter.com/6xURUYCy2b
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 9, 2023
Mikael Uhre scored for the Union (10-7-4, 34 points), who dropped to 1-3-1 over their past five matches.
Jonathan Klinsmann made one save for the Galaxy, while Philadelphia's Joe Bendik had three.
The Union were without star goalkeeper Andre Blake and top-notch defenders Kai Wagner (hamstring) and Damion Lowe. Blake and Lowe are playing for Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Wagner sat out his second straight game.
Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead on the Philadelphia own goal in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Douglas Costa took the corner kick and sent the ball into the box close to the net. There was competition for the ball, and it hit Mbaizo's lower back and went into the net.
Yes, it's an own goal, but we're calling this a goal for @Chris_Mavinga pic.twitter.com/cZT6FFsimR
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 9, 2023
The Galaxy increased their lead to 3-1 in the 76th minute when Puig unleashed a right-footed blast that was perfectly placed into the top right corner of the net. It was Puig's third goal of the season.
@RiquiPuig broke @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/ZI9YcCC2mD
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 9, 2023
Earlier, the Galaxy took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when Boyd took a low right-footed shot that went off Bendik on the way to the net. It was Boyd's fourth goal of the season.
Goal hungry ️
Tyler Boyd puts away the first goal in #LAvPHI. pic.twitter.com/38Ret7vVNK— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 9, 2023
Philadelphia tied the score in the 36th minute as Jakob Glesnes took a right-footed shot from outside the box that caromed off a Los Angeles defender. The ball ricocheted to Uhre, who sent a right-footed shot past Klinsmann for his seventh goal of the season.
A deflection off of a rocket from Jakob Glesnes lets Mikael Uhre send it home to tie it up on the road ⚡️
Watch for FREE on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/Ga3WDh5AB3#DOOP | #LAvPHI 1-1 pic.twitter.com/43KVZIVMKf— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) July 9, 2023
The Galaxy held a 16-11 edge in shots and placed seven on target to Philadelphia's two.
(Field Level Media)