Pec, LA Galaxy Soundly Defeat Mount Pleasant 3-0
LA Galaxy forward Gabriel Pec scored twice in the Galaxy's 3-0 away win over Mount Pleasant on Thursday, March 19. Kingston, Jamaica -- The Los Angeles Galaxy is heading to the Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals, powered by a Gabriel Pec brace. The Galaxy soundly beat the Caribbean Champions Mount Pleasant FA 3-0 in the second leg of their Round of 16 fixture on Thursday, March 19th, at Kingston's National Stadium, and it was Pec who starred for LA again.
The Brazilian stepped up by scoring in the 61st and 87th minutes to pad the result and improve the Galaxy’s standing at the top of the Champions Cup table. His latest performance continues his good form in the continental competition, where he has five goals. Pec was also pivotal in the first leg in Los Angeles, where the Jamaican side made the Galaxy suffer for the win, despite the eventual 3-0 result and Pec hat trick.
In that one, Pec scored early, but Mount Pleasant made LA work for the second and third goals, which came in the 89th minute and second-half injury time. But with João Klauss misfiring on the day, it fell to Pec to step up, and the young DP did, eventually scoring the goals that would set up a kind second leg. Thanks to his efforts, the Galaxy will now face off against Liga MX side Toluca in the tournament quarterfinals.
Pec’s form has been a bit different in MLS play, however. Although he has two assists, the winger has no goals, and worse yet, got himself sent off in the Galaxy’s 4-1 away loss to Colorado in Matchweek 3. In that match, Pec helped lead a fightback to tie the match at one goal apiece, but just minutes later, he would barrel into a late challenge that left his team shorthanded when they had momentum.
Pec responded by scoring his first leg hat trick, but his red card cost the Galaxy in their previous match as well, with both LA’s DP wingers being absent; Joseph Painstil through injury, and Pec through suspension. The Galaxy lacked creativity and a cohesive attacking plan in the match, with someone of Pec’s quality sorely needed to relieve the Galaxy’s woes on offense. Erik Thommy, one of LA’s recent recruits, has already noticed the importance of having both in the lineup.