Ghanaian winger Joseph Paintsil starred with a crucial first-half goal, leading LA Galaxy to a commanding 3-0 victory over San José Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on Saturday.
The win extends Galaxy's winning streak to four consecutive matches in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Paintsil, 26, opened the scoring in the 37th minute, finishing off a precise assist from Gabriel Pec to give Galaxy a 1-0 lead at halftime. His goal set the tone for a dominant second-half performance.
In the 72nd minute, Dejan Joveljic doubled Galaxy's advantage with a powerful header, capitalizing after Riqui Puig's shot hit the crossbar. Mauricio Cuevas sealed the victory in stoppage time with his first MLS goal.
Galaxy maintained offensive pressure throughout the match, tallying seven shots on target compared to San José's six. Goalkeeper John McCarthy preserved the clean sheet with six saves against a persistent Earthquakes side.
With the win, Galaxy remains tied for first place in the Western Conference alongside LAFC, both teams boasting 40 points. Real Salt Lake closely follows with 37 points.
Since joining from Genk, Paintsil has been pivotal for Galaxy, contributing six goals and four assists in 17 MLS appearances this season.
See the video below:
From one end of the field to the other! Joseph Paintsil puts it away to give the @LAGalaxy the lead.
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/GTvbAWcQBC pic.twitter.com/vxRJxHmOCs
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 30, 2024