ST. PAUL (September 19, 2026) – The LA Galaxy (8-10-9, 33 points) came from behind to win 3-2 over Minnesota United FC (7-11-8, 29 points) at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Pablo Ruiz opened the scoring with a left-footed free kick to give LA an early lead, but Minnesota responded with two quick goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break. At the hour mark, João Klauss and Marco Reus stepped onto the pitch and turned the match on its head with two goals less than five minutes apart in the final 15 minutes to capture all three points for the Galaxy on the night.
Goalscoring Plays
LA – Pablo Ruiz, 12th minute: After Kyōgo Furuhashi was fouled just outside the box, Ruiz stepped up and curled a left-footed free kick over the wall and into the top-right corner to give the Galaxy the opening lead.
MIN – Marcus Caldeira (Wil Trapp, Morris Duggan), 23rd minute: Minnesota worked the ball down the right flank before Trapp delivered a cross into the penalty area that found Caldeira, who headed home the equalizer to make it 1-1.
MIN – Kelvin Yeboah (Penalty), 30th minute: Following a penalty decision in favor of Minnesota, Yeboah converted from the spot with a finish into the bottom-left corner, giving the hosts a 2-1 advantage.
LA – João Klauss (Marco Reus), 76th minute: Reus delivered a free kick into the box that found the head of Klauss, who steered his effort inside the top corner of the far post to level the match at 2-2.
LA – Marco Reus (Lucas Calegari, Robert Taylor), 80th minute: After a sustained passing sequence by the Galaxy, Taylor played Calegari down the right side, and the Brazilian fullback delivered a first-time cross into the box that Reus stabbed out of the air to give LA a late 3-2 lead.
Postgame Notes
- Marco Reus scored the game-winning goal tonight, four minutes after recording the match-equalizing assist. The performance was Reus’ fourth multi-contribution match of the season in all competitions, and he has now recorded five goal contributions over the last four matches (three goals, two assists). Reus has now tallied seven goals and nine assists in league play and has been directly involved in 47% of the Galaxy’s 34 regular season goals. Notably, his assist in the 76th minute was his third set-up of the season for João Klauss.
- Pablo Ruiz opened his LA Galaxy goalscoring account with his pinpoint, left-footed free kick in the first half, and his first MLS score since June 17, 2023.
- John Nelson eclipsed the century mark in appearances across all competitions for the LA Galaxy tonight.
- In just his second game back from injury, João Klauss wasted no time adding to his goal tally, scoring his sixth MLS Regular Season goal to level the match in the 76th minute.
- Lucas Calegari recorded the game-winning assist for LA tonight, the first contribution of his second stint with the Galaxy. Dating back to his initial loan with the Galaxy in 2023, the defender has now recorded three assists in 24 MLS appearances (all starts).
Next Up
The LA Galaxy return home to host the Colorado Rapids on Mexican Heritage Night at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, September 26 (7:30 p.m. PT, Apple TV).
Match Information
Match: LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United FC
Date: September 19, 2026
Venue: Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minnesota
Weather: Cloudy and 62°F
Scoring Summary
|
1
|
2
|
F
|
LA Galaxy
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Minnesota United FC
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
LA: Pablo Ruiz, 12’
MIN: Marcus Caldeira (Wil Trapp, Morris Duggan), 23’
MIN: Kelvin Yeboah (Penalty), 30’
LA: João Klauss (Marco Reus), 76'
LA: Marco Reus (Lucas Calegari, Robert Taylor), 80'
Lineups
LA Galaxy: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Lucas Calegari, D Jakob Glesnes, D Justin Haak, D Julián Aude (John Nelson, 68’); M Pablo Ruiz, M Erik Thommy (Lucas Sanabria, 68’), M Robert Taylor (Maya Yoshida, 90+2’); F Harbor Miller (Marco Reus, 59’), F Hirving Lozano, F Kyōgo Furuhashi (João Klauss, 59’)
Substitutes not used: Novak Mićović, Emiro Garcés, Isaiah Parente, Troy Elgersma
Minnesota United FC: GK Drake Callender; D Carlos Harvey, D Nicolas Romero, D Morris Duggan (Jefferson Diaz, 73'), D Anthony Markanich; M Wil Trapp (Nectarios Triantis, 81’), M Owen Gene, M Kyle Duncan, M Joaquin Pereyra; F Kelvin Yeboah (Tomás Chancalay, 66'), F Marcus Caldeira (Maurice Malone, 81’)
Substitutes not used: Alec Smir, Aziel Jackson, Mauricio Gonzalez, Bongokuhle Hlongwane, DJ Taylor
Stats Summary
|
MIN
|
LA
|
Shots
|
15
|
17
|
Shots on Goal
|
5
|
5
|
Saves
|
2
|
3
|
Corner Kicks
|
5
|
9
|
Fouls
|
15
|
8
|
Offsides
|
1
|
2
|
Possession
|
44.5%
|
55.5%
|
Misconduct Summary
LA: Robert Taylor (caution) 26’
MIN: Carlos Harvey (caution) 69'
Officials
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth Official: Robert Vincze
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
LA Galaxy Postgame Quotes
LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney
On what tonight's win means in the race to the playoffs:
“It's a huge win. Whenever you can take three points right now, especially with teams that are in this hunt, in this mass of teams right now that are all fighting for these playoff spots, it's massive. So, as we see, three points will change the table. So, it's good to win them on the road. We still have four big games at home against four other teams that are in this fight with us, so this was a big one. These three points are going to go a long way towards, again, just giving the group confidence and clarity and the things that you want, energy, things that you want down the stretch as you push for the playoffs and hopefully something bigger than that.”
On if he believes that the team is trending upwards:
“I do. I think we're finding some consistency. We still haven't been able to really put out the same group consistently in games. We've had to adjust. Obviously, we didn't have Sergi tonight, and so we have to make some adjustments. We didn't start Marco [Reus]. We're getting Klauss to a starting level where he's ready to go. So, I still think we're seeing this team come together. But yeah, I felt like Vancouver was a game that we didn't handle the conditions well, and we didn't play well. But I do think that the quality of this group is starting to come around, as well as the connection. Tonight we started with Chucky [Lozano] almost like a second forward. Lucas [Sanabria] is another guy who we're managing a little bit with a slight injury in his calf, so we wanted to reduce his minutes. So, we were a little bit limited in our choices. So, we put Chucky inside for the first part of the game. So we're still adapting a little bit, but I think guys are growing together. The most important thing in the process is that you're getting results, and guys are getting confident and getting familiar with each other as we push towards health. I think we'll look even more healthy next week than we did this week, which is important.”
On João Klauss providing an ariel threat in the attack:
“Definitely from our striker position, he does. Obviously, his size and capability in the air gives us something different in crossing situations that we don't normally have. Kyōgo [Furuhashi] is not the biggest guy on the field, we all know that. So, balls crossed in the air, things like that are not going to be his primary threat. There's other guys who step in. Justin [Haak] had an incredible chance, I felt like from pretty good range, and he did a nice job of flicking a couple things on the set pieces. Obviously, in the past, Maya [Yoshida]'s gotten his head on some things and scored. But in terms of our attacking players, without a question, João is the guy who gives us just a different capacity to score goals on crosses in the air. And he also makes us bigger when we do bring our center backs up for set pieces. We have another target, not just the two guys who come up from the center back position.”
LA Galaxy Midfielder Marco Reus
On the match:
“It meant a lot to us after last week. We prepared ourselves for a tough away game, like always in Minnesota. I think we had the momentum, especially after the lead, and then it's about to keep the momentum. But then we concede two unnecessary goals, where, in my opinion, was not really dangerous for us to concede a goal. And then it's about to win the second half. Especially on the road, when it's always hard to come back. Against the home team, it's very important that you try to build or keep the momentum in the second half. And then I mean to put me in, to put João [Klauss] in, to have this option, it's not bad. And then Lucas [Sanabria] was coming in, and one or two other players. We have now a big squad. And the coach can decide. And especially, I have the feeling that always in the second half, there's always a chance to win games. And especially at this point of the season, when you have now seven games just left, it's very important that you have a good squad and that you can win always games late.”
On the playoff push:
“Our ultimate goal is absolutely to go to the playoffs. That's our goal from the beginning of the season, and we struggled a lot during the season. I think we never could win two games in a row, and I think to do it now would be massive for us, for the team, for the fans as well, to start the momentum. Every game is different. With all the players coming back, it gives us a good feeling during the week, and then it's about us in the game to show it. You need a little bit of luck, especially now at the end of the season. It's about winning games. Of course, I like to play nice, but I said it before to the team that it's more important to win games, especially at this time of the season.”
On Pablo Ruiz and his impact since joining the team:
“I like him very much. He reminds me a little bit of Nuri Şahin, I told him that before. I played with him a long time ago, but he reminds me of him a little bit. He scored a beautiful goal. And he gives us a different solution, especially with his left foot, because it's really rare in our squad that we have a left foot in this position. So, it's another piece for us, and he did great since he arrived here. I remember his first training. His impact was massive. This is what I mean when he's coming on from the bench or starting, Erik [Thommy], Sergi [Roberto] is coming back hopefully next week, so we have a lot of options. That means the quality can stay high, and that's very important.”
