The 2022 MLS season kicked off this weekend, with the defending champions battling across the country at the start of the season. Sunday marked the 14th time the LA Galaxy has hosted an Eastern Conference opponent. Caesars Sportsbook listed the LA Galaxy as +160 easy favourites ($160 to win $100) in their LA Galaxy odds against the defending MLS champs at 90 minutes, while NYCFC was a +170 underdog. The LA Galaxy have scored two or more goals in five of their six preseason games, so it was pretty evident that they would try and penetrate NYC’s defence. The reigning MLS champs debuted as NYC FC travelled across the country to take on the LA Galaxy. The defending champions won their first MLS title last season. They then took on the most successful team of the league in the opening match of the 2022 campaign with a road game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday at the Dignity Health Tennis Center.
Javier Chicharito Hernandez led the Los Angeles Galaxy to a win at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday afternoon in the matchup between the five-time MLS Cup champion and the reigning MLS Cup champion. Excellent performance in a 1-0 win over New York City. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored from the side of the court in the 90th minute as the LA Galaxy trailed New York City 1-0 in their season opener.
While the hosts were the champions, the hosts only won four regular-season away games last season. The first half of the season will be challenging as NYC FC aims to become the first Major League Soccer team to win the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2000.
Galaxy welcomes Marco Delgado and a great off-season in the form of Douglas Costa to the new Galaxy team Greg Vanney. Football fans know LA Galaxy has some serious star power after signing Brazilian Douglas Costa. This year, LA Galaxy will improve their performance to secure a place in the finals and challenge a new title. The hosts welcomed the defending champions to start the season and hope to claim their first silver medal this year since 2014. The LA Galaxy missed the playoffs for the second straight season in 2021 only because they had fewer wins than Real Salt Lake, and New York City won everything.
Aside from Chicharito’s top scorer, LA Galaxy’s next top scorer in 2021 was Sacha Kljestan, who scored five goals in the regular season, and Julian Araujo, who made six assists to lead the team. The Galaxy is looking to bring Javier Hernandez back when he scored ten goals in his first ten games. The Galaxy will also have to prove they can keep the ball out of the net, and when they try to do so, the MLS teams will stand against it. Costa, the new addition on the wings, will boost their attack.
