LA Galaxy midfielder Ricard Puig, left, kicks the ball for a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig pumps his fist after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, right, celebrates with teammate defender Jose Alfaro after Puig scores a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, moves the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Alessandro Schöpf during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic, right, vies for the ball with Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Karifa Yao (12) during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig kicks the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic, left, moves the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Andrés Cubas during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Uri Rosell, left, vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Levonte Johnson during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig kicks the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White, left, celebrates after scoring the winning goal past LA Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic, right, during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig reacts after the Vancouver Whitecaps FC score the winning goal during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Douglas Costa, right, moves the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Andrés Cubas during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Lucas Calegari, left, looks for an open teammate against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Raheem Edwards, left, kicks the ball as Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Levonte Johnson looks on during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic, center, takes a goal shot as Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Karifa Yao, left, tries to block it during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney looks on against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Julián Aude kicks the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic, right, dribbles past Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Andrés Cubas during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Julián Aude controls the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Douglas Costa, center, kicks the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Alessandro Schöpf during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig, center, dribbles between Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Tristan Blackmon, left, and midfielder Alessandro Schöpf during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, kicks the ball as he is chased by Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ryan Raposo during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Douglas Costa dribbles the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd controls the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the second half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, kicks the ball defended by Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Ryan Raposo during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy forward Daniel Aguirre, right, controls the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, right, kicks the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Andrés Cubas during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LA Galaxy defender Jalen Neal, left, vies for the ball with Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White during the first half of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Soccer fans sit in an empty section of the stadium prior to the start of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A young soccer fan dances prior to the start of a Leagues Cup group stage soccer match between the LA Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
CARSON — At the 80th minute mark, the Galaxy could visualize a spot in the Leagues Cup Round of 32.
However, the final 10-plus minutes of Sunday’s final group stage game against Vancouver would go down as just another disappointing ending.
With a one-goal lead, the Galaxy gave up an own goal and just before the end of regulation, a deflected shot led to the winning goal allowing Vancouver to escape with a 2-1 win in front of 14,787 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“I thought for 70-plus minutes we by in large were in great control of the game,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Like we’ve had over the course of the season, we had a lot of really good opportunities to take the game to 2-0. Looks on goal, attacks that have the right numbers, opportunities to create separation. We don’t and then we don’t manage the game and I put myself in that too, we don’t manage the final 15 or so minutes.”
Vancouver will face either Tigres or Portland in the Round of 32. The Galaxy, meanwhile, is eliminated and will be off until returning to MLS play Aug. 20.
In the 81st minute, a cross came in from the left that bounced off of Galaxy defender Lucas Calegari and into the goal to allow Vancouver to tie the game at 1-1.
Ten minutes later, the first of a three-minute stoppage time, an initial cross was deflected by Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez, into the path of Ryan Gauld, who attempted a half-volley, but that attempt found its way through to Brian White, who beat Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Mićović for the winning goal.
“At the end, I think we deserve to tie,” Vancouver coach Vanni Sartini said. “The win is a steal. I think the real result should have been a tie and then deciding in penalties who was going to go through, but you know, sometimes happens that you lose when you don’t deserve to lose and today we won probably not deserving to entirely to win.”
Also, sometimes, the Galaxy lack of finishing also happens. Or this season, has been a constant problem.
“When they had the chance, I forgot who shot it, but it went out and I thought, maybe the Gods of football today are in our favor,” Sartini said.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 16th minute on Riqui Puig’s goal. The Galaxy managed just three shots on goal and finished with 16 shots total.
“I feel like it was a microcosm of some of the games we’ve had through the course of the season,” Vanney said. “Where again, it’s not necessarily that we had a lot of shots on target, we missed target, we’re around the area, we get things blocked, we’re just not clinical in the final action and when you don’t that with teams you are, I believe dominating through large stretches of the game, they hang around. You can put them away and the game is done and their spirit is broken and you can see it out, but because they kept hanging around at 1-0, there wasn’t a broken spirit, they were always just around.”
