CARSON — Gabriel Pec’s 2024 saw him join a new club in a new country and get married.
On Saturday, the Brazilian striker opened his goal tally as a member of the Galaxy, leading the club to a wet and wild 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in front of 22,736 spectators at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Pec joined the Galaxy (3-0-3, 12 points) from Vasco da Gama in Brazil, signing as a designated youth player on January 30.
In the fourth minute, Pec beat Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei for the first and only goal of the game.
On the court, the Galaxy slowly let Pec work his way through the group. He got his first start last week in the 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City and contributed to the game-winning goal. Previously, he had only played as a second-half substitute. He also missed a match due to his marriage.
The adjustments he has had to make are not only on the offensive side, but also on the defensive side.
“Defensively, I think he’s still working on his tendencies before he gets here and finding the rhythm of what we’re asking him to do,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said Thursday. “Before he came here he just defended the outside back and that was his responsibility, but now we have more responsibility on the weak side when the ball is on the other side of the pitch which he has to fill.
“On the offensive side, we have to play better, to help him too. Part of that comes from him going through the growing pains of not having a pre-season, not having as much time with the group.
Pec’s goal in the fourth minute should have given the Galaxy a 2-0 lead, but in the second minute, Joseph Paintsil got behind the defense, but his shot hit the post.
Both teams had to fight their way up and down the field as rain left the field soggy. Hours before the game, members of the field crew and even some of the Galaxy technical staff were out with brooms and squeegees trying to clear excess water from the field.
In the second half, the Sounders tried to press for the equalizer. As much water as the pitch took, the Galaxy suffered about the same pressure, but survived through the same pressure, but managed to fight their way to safety.
The win not only maintained the Galaxy’s unbeaten streak to start the season, but also gave the Galaxy their first MLS regular season win against Seattle since 2018.
The Galaxy will return to the field on Saturday in the first El Trafico against rival LAFC at BMO Stadium.
California Daily Newspapers
