CARSON, Calif.—Gabriel Pec scored in the 90th minute to complete his first career Major League Soccer brace and lift the LA Galaxy to a 2–1 victory over Minnesota United on Sunday night, July 7.
Pec’s eighth and ninth goals of the season helped the Galaxy (12–4–7, 43 points) rebound after a 2–1 defeat to LAFC on Thursday night. The Galaxy moved level with LAFC and Real Salt Lake on points atop the Western Conference.
Ruqui Puig provided the secondary assist on both Galaxy goals to bring his team-leading total to 10.
Substitute Teemu Pukki pulled Minnesota (8–9–5, 29 points) level in the second half in his return from a knee injury and first appearance since June 1. But Minnesota still saw its skid extended to six matches, and now finds itself in 10th place in the Western Conference and outside the potential MLS Cup playoff field.
Puig began the decisive play by sending a pass wide right to substitute Mauricio Cuevas, whose first touch actually provided the benefit of evading a Minnesota defender. With his second, Cuevas drove the ball across the box for Pec to deliver a one-time finish from close range.
Pec’s opening goal, in the 25th minute, was a more expansive version of the same plan, with Puig connecting a ball from the center of the park to Miki Yamane down the right flank.
Yamane played a brilliant touch over a defender and drove low cross past Minnesota goalkeeper Alec Smir into the path of Pec for a simple one-touch finish.
Minnesota thought it had leveled only six minutes later following a rapidly worked counterattack, but Bongi Hlongwane was ruled offside on the buildup following a video review.
Pukki pulled Minnesota even in the 73rd minute when he was allowed time and space after receiving a pass at the attacking end of the center circle. The veteran dribbled down the middle all the way to the penalty arc before a defender closed, then curled a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner beyond goalkeeper John McCarthy’s dive.
Minnesota’s Franco Fragapane had an excellent late chance to put the visitors in front after an LA turnover, but McCarthy reacted excellently with a low diving save to his left in the 85th minute.
