MLS
LA Galaxy fans protest against club president Chris Klein during home opener
Before the 2023 Major League Soccer home opener against Vancouver Whitecaps the Galaxy fans protested against the club’s president.
Los Angeles Galaxy continues their winless streak during the start of the 2023 Major League Soccer season after three matchdays. The team with the most league titles salvaged a point on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps in their first home game of the campaign at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Galaxy conceded an early goal in the first half from a set piece when Ryan Gauld found the back of the net to give the Whitecaps the lead. Then in the 25th-minute goalkeeper Jonathan Bond had to be replaced after suffering a shoulder injury, but according to head coach Greg Vanney, it is not too serious.
The highlight of the night for the home side was when Kelvin Leerdam scored his first league goal since 2020 to help the Galaxy earn a much-needed point. The team managed by Vanney has earned two points in three games with a record of two draws and one defeat and they stand in 12th place in the standings in the Western Conference.
“Yeah, frustrating night. Frustrating night. There were definitely some good moments in the attack. We got in some good areas. We got to the end line several times. Obviously scored one first half. Offside. We give away a goal off of a set piece, that, we have, I think one guy, who steps up when the play is happening instead of staying with the group,” said Vanney after the game.
Fans are not happy with the team’s direction
Prior to the start of the game LA Galaxy fans protested against the club president Chris Klein for the direction the team has taken since he took over the job 11 seasons ago. Right before the home opener, fans called for the removal of Galaxy’s president after the league sanctioned them for breaching roster rules after illegal payments to Cristian Pavón in 2019 when he was made a designated player.
The Galaxy were fined $1 million and they can’t sign any foreign players during the summer transfer window. The fans are not happy that the team has not been competitive under Klein’s tenure and they have not won the MLS Cup since the 2014 season.