Major League Soccer (MLS) action on Saturday saw LA Galaxy defeat San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 at Stanford Stadium, with Black Stars winger Joseph Paintsil scoring one goal and setting up another.
The 26-year-old Joseph Paintsil made his debut in the 37th minute, capitalizing on a pinpoint assist from Gabriel Pec to give Galaxy a 1-0 lead going into the half. His goal established the tone for Galaxy’s total control of the game.
Dejan Joveljic increased Galaxy’s advantage in the 72nd minute with a strong header, after Riqui Puig’s first effort had struck the crossbar. Mauricio Cuevas scored his first MLS goal in stoppage time to complete the match and secure Galaxy’s victory.
Galaxy consistently applied offensive pressure, with seven of their shots on goal, against San Jose’s six. John McCarthy, the goalkeeper, was instrumental in keeping the scoreless record against the tenacious Earthquakes team by making six saves.
The victory highlights Galaxy’s excellent play this season and their fourth straight victory in the Major League Soccer. With this win, Galaxy and LAFC, two teams with 40 points apiece, are still tied for first place in the very competitive Western Conference. Real Salt Lake, with 37 points, is not far behind.
Paintsil has been crucial since joining LA Galaxy from Genk, making 17 appearances this MLS season and contributing six goals and four assists. His contribution to the team’s triumph versus San José is further highlighted by his performance.
As the Galaxy strive to hold onto their top spot in the Western Conference rankings and pursue more success in the MLS season, supporters should expect Paintsil and the squad to continue turning in outstanding performances.