Dejan Joveljic scored in the 76th minute to snap a tie and the LA Galaxy extended their advantage atop the Western Conference with a 2-1 win over Austin FC on Saturday night in Carson, Calif.
Given service from Gaston Brugman and Riqui Puig, Joveljic tallied his 15th goal of the season via a rocket off his left foot that bulged the net’s roof as the Galaxy improved to 19-7-7 overall, good for 64 points. They have a six-point lead over second-place Los Angeles FC in the West.
While LA is in position to make the conference title come through it, Austin (10-14-9, 39 points) was eliminated from playoff consideration with the result. The Portland Timbers, who were idle on Saturday, clinched the West’s final playoff spot.
The Galaxy came into the match looking to avenge a 2-0 loss to Austin FC on April 27 in Texas. On Saturday, LA broke the seal in the 31st minute via some individual brilliance from Gabriel Pec.
After winning a long diagonal pass from Puig near the right corner, Pec dribbled around Guilherme Biro, made his way into the penalty box and slotted a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net past diving goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
LA carried the 1-0 margin into halftime, but Austin, which suffered a five-match winless streak late in the season that helped sink its playoff chances, equalized in the 55th minute off a fine sequence. Osman Bukari fed Sebastian Driussi at the top of the 12-yard box, and Driussi drilled a right-footed shot under the crossbar for his sixth goal of the year.
Austin FC outshot the Galaxy 18-15 and owned a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. The teams combined for 30 fouls and were given a total of 10 yellow cards. Biro earned a red card in the 13th minute of stoppage time in the second half.
Goalie John McCarthy made four saves for LA.
–Field Level Media
