Galaxy and Club America Battle to 2-2 Draw in Rainy Friendly

The LA Galaxy and Club America concluded their friendly match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Saturday with a 2-2 draw. The game took place in challenging weather conditions, including heavy rain and lightning, which ultimately led to the match being called off in the 87th minute. A crowd of 16,714 witnessed the back-and-forth contest that saw the Galaxy equalize twice against the prominent Liga MX club.

Christian Ramirez opened the scoring for the Galaxy in the 15th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Mauricio Cuevas. The team then fell behind when Club America scored, but Gabriel Pec found the net just before halftime to level the score at 2-2, also with Cuevas providing the assist.

Despite the inclement weather, both teams demonstrated resilience and skill throughout the match. Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney utilized this friendly as an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season, which is set to begin with the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in early February 2026.

In a post-match statement, Vanney highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum heading into the offseason. “Good chances, as we all know, we could come back and play as early as February 3, and so that could end up being a four-and-a-half week preseason,” he explained. “You want to try to at least reduce that a little bit.”

The Galaxy’s regular season concluded on October 18, 2025, and the team opted to keep players in training for an additional three weeks leading up to this friendly matchup. This adjustment aims to ensure they are well-prepared for the upcoming challenges.

Ramirez, who had a promising start to the season with four goals in the first eight games, expressed his relief at getting minutes on the field after struggling with fitness towards the end of the season. “I wasn’t healthy at the end of the year, and it’s good to put some minutes in our bank and then move on to the offseason and prepare for next year,” he stated.

The player emphasized the significance of health and performance, stating, “The most important thing, going into the offseason, is that everybody walks off Saturday night healthy and ready to hit the ground running in January.”

Galaxy academy product Jose “Pepe” Magaña, 18, made a late appearance as a substitute, showcasing the club’s commitment to developing young talent. Magaña previously made 25 appearances with Ventura County FC, the Galaxy’s MLS Next Pro team. Another academy player, Gabriel Arnold, also participated, coming on in the 80th minute.

Looking ahead, Club America prepares for the Liga MX Apertura tournament, and their match against the Galaxy served as a crucial warm-up. For the Galaxy, this friendly not only provided a chance to assess their players but also set the stage for an intense offseason training regimen.

As the teams depart from this encounter, both will focus on their respective upcoming seasons, with the Galaxy eager to bounce back and make a significant impact in 2026.