Galaxy score late, but can’t rally back against Austin FC -

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Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, left, recovers the ball while defended by Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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CARSON — The positive vibes the Galaxy players and coaches had started to experience lately evaporated into the night sky on Wednesday.

Looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season, the Galaxy gave up a pair of easy goals, failed to convert in their attacking situations and suffered a 2-1 loss to Austin FC at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“Frustrating,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Based on the position where we are, every game is meaningful, doesn’t matter when it is or where it is. Today was an opportunity I think to try to get back into it, and that was a missed opportunity.”

The Galaxy (3-14-6, 15 points) had earned at least one point in five of their past six games, including consecutive wins over the Vancouver Whitecaps and D.C. United.

The hosts found a late lifeline early into the eight minutes of stoppage time on Wednesday, when Joseph Paintsil earned and converted a penalty kick, bringing life to the 16,272 inside Dignity Health Sports Park.

Unfortunately for the Galaxy, they were unable to turn that momentum into a second goal to salvage a point. The eight minutes of stoppage time turned into 11, but a late low curling shot by Paintsil was kept out by a sprawling Brad Stuver to end the game.

Austin FC (8-8-6, 30 points), which won the first meeting in April, opened the scoring in the 40th minute on a goal by Myrto Uzuni. Uzuni was able to get between defenders Maya Yoshida and John Nelson and finished the sequence with a shot that goalkeeper Novak Micovic couldn’t get his hands to.

The second goal came in the 63rd minute from Owen Wolff. The situation appeared harmless as the Galaxy had two defenders near an Austin attacker and Micovic coming out to scoop up the ball. However, the ball slid away from Micovic and toward Wolff for the finish.

The night got off to a strange start.

Shortly after kickoff, play was halted because players complained the balls were improperly inflated. After a couple of balls were kicked out of play, the game resumed.

“Weird start,” Vanney said. “The game sort of lacked intensity in the early part with the stop-start. Everybody, all the players were complaining, if you will, and stopping because they felt like the balls were flat, they weren’t firm enough.

“So it was both teams that were feeling that way. … We tried several. I don’t think in the end they actually put any air in the balls. I think we just got on with it.”

Adding to the early problems for the Galaxy was a third-minute yellow card to midfielder Edwin Cerrillo.

“Getting it so early, I’m cautious on the next foul, especially early on,” Cerrillo said. “It’s my game to kind of impose and get into people’s faces. That (the yellow card) limits a little bit of what I can do.

“Every game is important for us right now, and I can’t afford to get another yellow card.”

It was another night of the Galaxy wasting their chances in attack. The hosts were credited with 13 shot attempts but only two were on goal. Gabriel Pec had a frustrating night. The speedy winger was able to get into several dangerous spots, but he couldn’t get many attempts on target.

“That’s been our formula,” Vanney said. “Giving up soft goals and missing our opportunities.”

The Galaxy have a quick turnaround with a short trip to BMO Stadium on Saturday night to face LAFC (10-5-5, 35 points). The first meeting ended in a 2-2 draw on May 18 in Carson.

Galaxy score late, but can’t rally back against Austin FC

BySoCal Chronicle

By SoCal Chronicle

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