LA Galaxy 1-0 SJ Earthquakes: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
MLS · Thursday 20 August 2026 · Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson · referee R. Touchan · full time
Full time: LA Galaxy 1-0 SJ Earthquakes
LA Galaxy won 1-0 at home to SJ Earthquakes in MLS on Thursday 20 August 2026. The goals: Joseph Paintsil 79'.
How LA Galaxy won it
The opening goal came in the 79th minute: Joseph Paintsil for LA Galaxy, set up by Harbor Miller.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
Lucas Sanabria of LA Galaxy was sent off in the 45th minute for a second yellow card. The referee, R. Touchan, showed 6 yellow cards: 3 to LA Galaxy and 3 to SJ Earthquakes.
LA Galaxy: G. Vanney, 4-2-3-1 · SJ Earthquakes: B. Arena, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 2.08 for LA Galaxy and 1.52 for SJ Earthquakes.
LA Galaxy scored about 1.1 fewer than their chances were worth: poor finishing, or a goalkeeper at his best.
SJ Earthquakes left about 1.5 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.
LA Galaxy had 7 shots on target, SJ Earthquakes 5.
SJ Earthquakes's goalkeeper made 6 saves.
SJ Earthquakes had 63% of the ball, but LA Galaxy took the points.
A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.
Where the two sides stood before this match
LA Galaxy came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.4 and conceding 1.7 a match, with 1.49 expected goals for and 2.08 against, and had won 32% of their matches.
SJ Earthquakes came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.7 and conceding 1.4 a match, with 1.76 expected goals for and 1.42 against, and had won 42% of their matches.
LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes: the match in numbers
| LA Galaxy | Match statistics | SJ Earthquakes |
|---|---|---|
| 37% | Ball possession | 63% |
| 2.08 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.52 |
| 10 | Total shots | 22 |
| 7 | Shots on target | 5 |
| 2 | Big chances | 7 |
| 327 | Total passes | 556 |
| 80% | Pass accuracy | 88% |
| 2 | Corners | 5 |
| 12 | Fouls | 17 |
| 2 | Offsides | 1 |
| 14 | Tackles | 12 |
| 4 | Saves | 6 |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 3 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Jakob Glesnes (LA Galaxy), rated 8.2 by Sportmonks.
LA Galaxy
- Jakob Glesnes 8.2
- Joseph Paintsil 8.0 1 goal
- JT Marcinkowski 7.5
- Harbor Miller 7.5 1 assist
- Justin Haak 7.3
SJ Earthquakes
- Ousseni Bouda 7.7
- Angus Gunn 7.5
- Ian Harkes 7.5
- Paul Marie 7.3
- Timo Werner 7.2
The lowest-rated starter was Lucas Sanabria at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- LA Galaxy: Los Angeles FC vs LA Galaxy Monday 26 October 2026 · MLS
- SJ Earthquakes: SJ Earthquakes vs Colorado Rapids Thursday 29 October 2026 · MLS
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes
What was the score in LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes?
LA Galaxy 1-0 SJ Earthquakes (half-time 0-0), MLS, Thursday 20 August 2026.
Who scored in LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes?
Joseph Paintsil 79'.
Did Moneyball predict LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes?
Jakob Glesnes, rated 8.2 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes?
R. Touchan.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
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