LA Galaxy Advance to Leagues Cup Semifinals with Key Win, Novak Mićović Shines in Goal

 Galaxy Advance in Leagues Cup with Gritty Win Over Pachuca

LA Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Mićović in action during the Leagues Cup quarterfinal win over CF Pachuca at Dignity Health Sports Park.

CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy may be struggling in MLS play, but their Leagues Cup campaign is telling a different story.

With Wednesday night's 2-1 win over CF Pachuca at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy matched their total number of regular-season victories with three wins in the tournament. A crowd of 16,599 watched as the last-place MLS side continued their surprising run in the competition between MLS and Liga MX teams.

“Defensively, I thought the work rate was excellent,” said Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney. “It was a committed performance, and you have to win games like this — tough schedule, tough opponent — the guys just battled.”

The Galaxy went unbeaten in the group stage, defeating Tijuana (5-2) and Santos Laguna (4-0) while drawing Cruz Azul (1-1), securing the fourth seed among the 18 MLS teams.

Against Pachuca, the Galaxy took the lead in the 28th minute through an own goal, as Marco Reus’s low cross deflected off defender Daniel Aceves and into the net. Reus doubled the lead in the 37th minute, finishing from 12 yards out after a deflection off a defender landed at his feet following a pass from Matheus Nascimento.

Pachuca dominated possession after the break, forcing the Galaxy into a defensive shell. The visitors outshot LA 9-1 in the second half and finally broke through in stoppage time when Alexandre Zurawski scored on a volley to make it 2-1. But it came too late, and the Galaxy held on.

Goalkeeper Novak Mićović made two crucial saves in the 78th minute, including one off a deflection from his own defender, Emiro Garces.

“It felt like a mature performance — something we haven’t seen much of this season,” Vanney said. “But the group has really come together in this tournament.”

The win sends the Galaxy to the semifinals, where they will host the Seattle Sounders next Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. The teams met earlier this month in MLS play, with Seattle cruising to a 4-0 win in Carson. This time, the Galaxy will have a slight advantage with an extra day of rest; they play Saturday, while the Sounders play Sunday.

Seattle advanced via a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Puebla after a scoreless draw earlier Wednesday.

In the other quarterfinals, Orlando City SC defeated Toluca 6-5 on penalties and will face rival Inter Miami, who beat Tigres 2-1. All four MLS clubs won their quarterfinal matchups.

The Leagues Cup final and third-place match are scheduled for August 31.