GALAXY COME UP SHORT IN 2-1 LOSS TO COLUMBUS CREW

COLUMBUS (April 22, 2026) – The LA Galaxy (2-4-3, 9 points) fell just short of erasing a two-goal deficit in a 2-1 loss to Eastern Conference side Columbus Crew (2-4-3, 9 points) at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio. LA’s Gabriel Pec combined with Joseph Paintsil for his first MLS goal of the campaign late in the second half to bring the Galaxy within one, but it was not enough for a fourth-consecutive result away from home.

LA Galaxy forward João Klauss is set to undergo surgery on Friday after suffering a foot injury in the club’s previous match against FC Dallas on April 18. Klauss is expected to remain out until after the upcoming World Cup break.

Goalscoring Plays

COL – Dániel Gazdag (Hugo Picard), 40th minute: Columbus regained possession in LA’s half before Picard played a low cross from the left wing into the box, where Gazdag finished at the front-post to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.

COL – Diego Rossi (Max Arfsten), 47th minute: Rossi played Arfsten down the right wing, who dribbled into the box and cut the ball back to Rossi centrally. The Uruguayan finished to double the hosts’ lead.

LA – Gabriel Pec (Joseph Paintsil), 86th minute: Emiro Garcés drove deep into Columbus’ half before finding Paintsil near the top of the box, who then turned and threaded the ball ahead of Pec into the box. With his first touch, Pec tucked the ball inside the near post and into the back of the net from the corner of the six-yard box.

Postgame Notes

Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec opened his 2026 MLS Regular Season goalscoring account late in the second half, his seventh goal of the campaign across all competitions and 11th goal contribution overall.
Joseph Paintsil recorded his third goal contribution in the last two matches (101 minutes) since returning from injury, combining with Pec late in the second half.
19-year-old LA Galaxy forward Ruben Ramos Jr. earned his first start of the 2026 campaign in the match, the second start of his Galaxy career overall.
The LA Galaxy extended their scoring streak to 18 consecutive matches with Gabriel Pec’s 86th minute goal, the longest active scoring streak in MLS.

Next Up

The LA Galaxy return home for a primetime Sunday Night Soccer matchup against Real Salt Lake on April 26 (4 p.m. PT, Apple TV) on a special night at Dignity Health Sports Park that kicks off with a statue unveil ceremony to honor club legend Cobi Jones.

Match Information

Match: LA Galaxy at Columbus Crew

Date: April 22, 2026

Venue: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field; Columbus, Ohio
Weather: Cloudy and 68°F

Scoring Summary	1	2	F
Columbus Crew	1	1	2
LA Galaxy	0	1	1

CLB: Dániel Gazdag (Hugo Picard), 40’
CLB: Diego Rossi (Max Arfsten), 47’

LA: Gabriel Pec, (Joseph Paintsil), 86’

Lineups

LA Galaxy: GK JT Marcinkowski; D Julián Aude (John Nelson, 22’), D Maya Yoshida (Emiro Garcés, 62’), D Justin Haak, D Miki Yamane; M Edwin Cerrillo (Isaiah Parente, 77’), M Elijah Wynder (Joseph Paintsil, 62’), M Lucas Sanabria; F Ruben Ramos Jr. (Harbor Miller, 62’), F Gabriel Pec, F Marco Reus

Substitutes not used: Novak Mićović, Chris Rindov, Maurico Cuevas, Troy Elgersma

Columbus Crew GK Patrick Schulte; D Malte Amundsen, D Rudy Camacho, D Sean Zawadzki (C), D Steven Moreira; M Dylan Chambost, M Taha Habroune, M Max Arfsten, M Hugo Picard (Andres Herrera, 73’); F Dániel Gazdag (Sekou Bangoura, 73’), F Diego Rossi (Jamal Thiare, 88’)

Substitutes not used: Nicholas Hagen; Cesar Ruvalcaba, Amar Sejdic, Yevhen Cheberko, Owen Presthus, Nariman Akhundzada