In a heated quarter-final match for the League Cup, Los Angeles Galaxy took on CF Pachuca at Dignity Health Sports Park on Thursday, 21 August 2025. LA Galaxy defeated the Mexican club 2-1 in a truly electric game.
CF Pachuca, placed second in the Liga MX group, were marked as favourites against Galaxy ahead of the game. The team representing the Los Angeles side had lost its previous outing to Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS).
Reus’ rampage
LA Galaxy scored their first goal just 25 minutes into the match due to an own goal by Pachuca’s Aceves. A short corner kick intended for Reus caught Pachuca’s defence off guard. Reus played the ball across the goal, and Aceves’s attempt to dismiss the attack inadvertently led the ball to the net, leading the officials to declare it an own goal.
Galaxy scored their second goal just ten minutes after their first, as Reus concluded a rapid counterattack initiated by the midfielders. The German striker scored his last goal for the game in a sublime fashion, striking a low shot towards the bottom right corner of the net.
Pachuca’s players fail to capitalise on chances
Pachua’s strikers failed to capitalise on chances for the majority of the game. Their sole goal of the match came towards the end of extra time. The goal was scored by Alemao, a Brazilian striker who was subbed on in the second half of the game. The midfielder made an impressive half-turn to trick the defenders before striking a volley that went past everybody, including the excellent Micovic, to score the losing side’s only goal.
The game marked a disappointing turnout for Victor Guzmann as, despite receiving two scoring opportunities inside the square in the second half, the Mexican failed to make those count. Victor’s first attempt was halted by a routine stop from Galaxy’s Micovic. The second opportunity that came just seconds after was squandered by Victor as he dragged the ball wide off the right post.