LA Galaxy Qualify for Leagues Cup Quarterfinals with 4-0 Win Over Santos Laguna

The Los Angeles Galaxy secured a crucial 4-0 victory over Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup, propelling them into the quarterfinals despite a disappointing MLS season. Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring in the first minute, with Matheus Nascimento and Maya Yoshida adding goals before halftime, while Santos Laguna was reduced to nine players due to two red cards. Lucas Sanabria completed the scoring in the second half, helping the Galaxy move up to the third seed among MLS teams in the tournament. The Galaxy's coach Greg Vanney emphasized the importance of this win in salvaging their season and noted that the team controlled its fate moving forward. Meanwhile, the Galaxy faced challenges earlier in the group stage, including a penalty shootout loss to Cruz Azul, where goalkeeper Novak Mićović struggled but remained optimistic about his form. The quarterfinals, featuring four MLS and four Liga MX teams, are scheduled for August 19-20, with the Galaxy set to host Pachuca.