FC Cincinnati forward Ender Echenique, front, vies for the ball with LA Galaxy defender Harbor Miller (26) during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec (11) yells at the referee against FC Cincinnati during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund, left, holds LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil as he chases the ball during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil, left, is pushed to the ground by FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (4) during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagundez, left, collides with FC Cincinnati forward Luca Orellano (23) during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, front, moves the ball past FC Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Bucha during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic (1) winds up to kick the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, left, collides with FC Cincinnati forward Yuya Kubo (7) during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo (6) kicks the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Miki Yamane (2) takes a goal shot against FC Cincinnati during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Julián Aude (3) looks to pass against FC Cincinnati during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec, right, chases the ball as FC Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Bucha (20) looks on during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Maruicio Cuevas (19) recovers the ball defended by FC Cincinnati forward Brenner (8) during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Isaiah Parente (16) controls the ball as he pushes FC Cincinnati forward Ender Echenique (66) during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec (11) moves the ball up the field against FC Cincinnati during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec (11) reacts after missing a goal shot against FC Cincinnati during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil (28) drives the ball chased by FC Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Bucha (20) during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Harbor Miller (26) vies for the ball with FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson (12) during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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FC Cincinnati forward Ender Echenique, front, vies for the ball with LA Galaxy defender Harbor Miller (26) during the first half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. FC Cincinnati won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
CARSON — The Galaxy finally earned their “e” in the MLS Western Conference standings.
After winning their sixth MLS Cup in December, the Galaxy were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday, just minutes before their game against FC Cincinnati at Dignity Health Sports Park kicked off.
The Galaxy had managed to stay alive of late, thanks to a consecutive pair of draws, most recently last Saturday against Seattle. However, entering Saturday, there were more possibilities available that would leave the Galaxy on the outside looking in.
The first one was a win by FC Dallas over Colorado.
The end was likely to come for the Galaxy, especially with FC Cincinnati in town. FC Cincinnati, who is in the fight for the Supporters’ Shield, scored twice inside the first 25 minutes and held on for a 3-2 win in front of 18,518.
The Galaxy got a goal back in the 39th minute on a goal by Joseph Paintsil. However, the night would end with the Galaxy a man short after Isaiah Parente’s second yellow card in the 53rd minute.
Despite some spirited work, the Galaxy were never able to find an equalizer, but FC Cincinnati made it 3-1 in the 88th minute on Brenner’s second goal of the night, sending the Galaxy to their 17th loss of the season.
Mauricio Cuevas did eventually score the Galaxy’s second goal early in stoppage time.
For as good as things went last season, this season was the direct opposite for the Galaxy. Following an offseason makeover that required the Galaxy to trade several key players, the season began with a 16-game winless streak. The first regular-season win didn’t come until May 31.
One big factor was the absence of energetic midfielder Riqui Puig. Puig suffered an ACL injury in last year’s Western Conference final. There was some thought that he would make a late-season appearance. He is still less than a year away from the injury. He has moved his recovery to the outside training field, but there is still a way to go.
“I’m going to stick to it’s still a step-by-step thing,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said Thursday regarding Puig. “Over the next three weeks, the focus for Riqui is really just continuing to build strength and balance in both of those legs and quads and everything else so that he is as safe as he needs to be, then integrating him into the full training environment.
“Then I think it’s about getting him a good length of time in that training environment that he goes through all the things that he’s going to go through once he starts to really play again, and we give him a chance to settle in. And depending on how all that plays out, will help kind of lead us into what’s next and when is next and all those kinds of things.”
Without Puig, all aspects of the Galaxy struggled, especially Paintsil and Gabriel Pec. Both were double-digit goal scorers last year. This year, both have six goals apiece.
The Galaxy will return to action Saturday at home against Sporting Kansas City.
