Douglas Costa exits with injury in LA Galaxy defeat to Orlando

The Los Angeles Galaxy are struggling in the start of the 2022 MLS regular season and on Saturday suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Orlando City at Dignity Health Sports Park. Also, this was the Lions' first win in the pacific zone since April 2015, when they beat the Timbers in Portland and their sixth ever game on the west coast.

First loss at home this campaign

This was the Lions' first visit to the west coast since 2018 and they wanted to leave with the three points. Well mission accomplished, because Ercan Kara led a quick breakaway for Orlando down the right flank and delivered a perfect cross for Facundo Torres, who headed home from inside the box, to give them the 1-0 advantage in the ninth minute.

This was Torres’ first ever MLS goal and Orlando City was able to hold on to the lead the entire game to beat the LA Galaxy, in what was the hosts' first home defeat of the season. The five-time MLS champions lacked creativity and things got worse for them when Douglas Costa was forced off before the start of the second half due to an injury.

The Galaxy maintained the majority of the possession of the ball, but couldn’t bring down Orlando’s defensive wall. The best chance occurred late in the second half when Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández received the ball near the box and struck a right-footed shot that went just wide. This is their second consecutive loss and they are struggling to score goals due to the lack of creativity and are failing to find the back of the net in the few chances they create.