The LA Galaxy’s nightmare start to the 2025 MLS season continues. Despite a promising performance last Sunday’s El Tráfico match that saw Marco Reus score twice, the Galaxy had to settle for a 2-2 draw with LAFC, extending their winless streak to 14 matches which is the worst start to a season in league history.
In his postgame remarks, Head Coach Greg Vanney remained optimistic and highlighted the team’s bright spots. “I thought the game certainly had its ebbs and flows. There were stretches early on where I thought we were in control and were playing in their half of the field and good in possession.” Vanney added, “The thing I thought we did well tonight is we got some numbers into places where we were able to play in combination, move the ball quickly, penetrate, get to the end lines. Get through lines. I felt like we had some speed in some of the transitions. There were some good things inside of the game on the attacking side, I thought, tonight.”
The Galaxy (0-10-4) sits dead last in the Western Conference with just four points. They’ve conceded a league-high 33 goals and scored only 12, the fourth fewest in the Major Soccer League (MLS). Forward Marco Reus, who played the full 90 minutes for just the third time this season, offered a rare bright spot. The 35-year-old has now registered three goals and three assists in his last five matches after a sluggish start and has begun to step up in the absence of injured midfield star Riqui Puig.
Puig, who led MLS in touches last season, remains sidelined with an ACL tear suffered in last year’s conference final. His absence has exposed a lack of cohesion and creativity in the Galaxy midfield, while early-season injuries to Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, and Reus only compounded the team’s struggles.
Despite the historic skid, Galaxy head coach Vanney received a three-year contract extension through 2028-a move that drew media scrutiny when it was announced last Friday. Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz defended the timing, stating that the decision had been made following the club’s 2024 MLS Cup triumph and was based on Vanney’s long-term vision and leadership, even though the announcement came during a turbulent stretch.
Vanney, who led the Galaxy to their record sixth title last season, has faced roster turnover due to salary cap limitations-an all-too-common challenge in MLS. Key contributors like Dejan Joveljic and Gastón Brugman departed in the offseason, weakening the squad’s depth and experience.
The Galaxy’s lone win this year came in March against Herediano in the Concacaf Champions Cup – but that feels like a distant memory as the league losses have piled up. Their next chance to turn things around comes on the road against third-place San Diego FC Saturday, May 24, at 1:45 p.m.