Joveljic’s Two Goals Help Red-Hot Galaxy Knock Off FC Dallas

Joveljic’s Two Goals Help Red-Hot Galaxy Knock Off FC Dallas
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (L) scores a goal on a penalty kick past FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes in Carson, Calif., on May 29, 2024. (Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY via Field Level Media)
Field Level Media
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CARSON, Calif.—Dejan Joveljic’s two goals led the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 3–1 victory over FC Dallas on Wednesday night, May 30.

Riqui Puig scored the other goal for the Galaxy (7–2–7, 28 points), which stretched its home unbeaten streak to seven games (4–0–3). LA is unbeaten in six matches overall (2–0–4).

Patrickson Delgado scored for FC Dallas (3–7–4, 13 points), which saw its streak of matches with at least a point snapped at three.

Puig escaped two Dallas defenders and put a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Maarten Paes four minutes into second-half stoppage time to give the Galaxy a 3–1 lead. Puig has six goal contributions (three goals, three assists) in LA’s seven home matches this season.

Joveljic’s second goal of the match gave the Galaxy a 2–1 lead in the 66th minute. LA was awarded a second penalty kick in the 65th minute when Sebastien Ibeagha took Diego Fagundez down in the area. On the ensuing kick, Joveljic put his right-footed strike past Paes for his second of the night and ninth of the season.

LA controlled the first-half possession and outshot Dallas 11–3 in the opening half, but the sides were tied 1–1 through 45 minutes. LA opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Joveljic put a right-footed strike past a diving Paes for his eighth goal of the season.

Delgado tied it 1–1 in the 22nd minute, one-timing a cross from Marco Farfan past Galaxy keeper John McCarthy for his third of the season.

LA was awarded a penalty kick in the 31st minute after Paes took down Joveljic in the area. On the ensuing kick, Gabriel Pec’s shot was stopped, and Paes also made a save on the rebound. Then Joveljic thought he had scored his second of the match, but the play was ruled offside.

Midfielder Gaston Brugman, who was supposed to be in LA’s starting 11, suffered a knee injury during warmup and was unavailable. Mark Delgado started in place of Brugman.