LA Galaxy have taken one step closer to sealing their position as leaders of the Western Conference pack thanks to Gabriel Pec.
The 23-year-old Vasco da Gama academy graduate scored his club-leading 16th goal of the season in the 31st minute against visiting Austin FC, whose playoff lives are on the line tonight at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Pec controlled a diagonal ball by former Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig near the right-side touchline, then shimmied past two Verde-and-Black defenders before slotting low past Brad Stuver.
The Galaxy came into tonight’s match needing a win to outpace rivals LAFC in order to finish the regular season atop the conference and as things stand, they seem to be on course to achieve just that.
Pec also spurned an earlier chance six minutes prior after going on a mazy run through the Austin defence but was denied by a crafty kick-save by Stuver.
Having the last laugh!
Feature image credit: © Ryan Sun-Imagn Images