LOS ANGELES (October 4, 2026) – The LA Galaxy fell 2-1 to Liga MX side Cruz Azul in a club friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday night. The match was held during the international break in an effort to maintain fitness levels ahead of the club's final stretch of league matches amidst the Galaxy's pursuit of a spot in the 2026 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The visitors took a two-goal lead into the halftime break before Joseph Paintsil cut into LA's deficit with a goal in his return to the pitch from injury.
Goalscoring Plays
CAZ – Luka Romero, 9th minute: After winning possession in the Galaxy half, Cruz Azul combined on a quick passing sequence that ended with Romero scoring from close range to put the visitors ahead 1-0.
CAZ – Agustín Palavencino, 28th minute: The visitors doubled their lead with a long-range shot from outside of the box that skipped into the bottom right corner.
LA – Joseph Paintsil (Troy Elgersma) 84th minute: Leading the counter, Elgersma hit the ball across the pitch to Paintsil, who drove into the box and scored with a low show past the goalkeeper to cut the hosts deficit in half.
Next Up
The LA Galaxy return to MLS Regular Season play against St. Louis CITY SC next Sunday, October 11 at Energizer Park in Missouri (4 p.m. PT, Apple TV).
Friendly Information
Match: LA Galaxy vs Cruz Azul
Date: October 4, 2026
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park
Weather: Sunny and 92°F
Scoring Summary
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1
|
2
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F
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LA Galaxy
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0
|
1
|
1
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Cruz Azul
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
CAZ: Luka Romero, 9'
CAZ: Agustín Palavencino, 28'
LA: Joseph Paintsil (Troy Elgersma), 84'
Lineups
LA Galaxy: GK Novak Mićović (Sebastian Conlon, 46’); D Mason Vanney (Lucas Calegari, 61’), D Maya Yoshida (Chris Rindov, 74’), D Emiro Garcés (Jose Magaña, 74’), D Julián Aude (John Nelson, 61’); M Lucas Sanabria (Joseph Paintsil, 74’), M Pablo Ruiz (Elijah Wynder, 46’), M Brett Phan; F Troy Elgersma, F Robert Taylor (Isaiah Parente, 61’), F Kyōgo Furuhashi (Daniel Ittycheria, 74’)
Substitutes not used: JT Marcinkowski, Jakob Glesnes, Justin Haak
Cruz Azul: GK Andres Gudiño (Ricardo Rodríguez, 82'); D Willer Ditta (Alan Montes, 62'), D Jesús Orozco (Juan Pablo Tejeda, 82'), D Ralph Orquin (Josué Diaz, 62'), D Jorge Rodarte (José Suárez, 82'), D Gonzalo Piovi (Alan Mozo, 46'); M Agustín Palavencino (Carlos Rodríguez, 46'), M Ariel Castro (Xandor Camacho, 82'), M Luka Romero (Zadiel Pineda, 62'), M José Paradela (Andrés Montaño, 46'); F Juan José Calero (Nicolas Ibañez, 62')
