Pair of Defensive Veterans Save LA Galaxy From 17th Loss in 2025

Both the offense and the defense have been to blame for the Los Angeles Galaxy's nightmare season. At 4-9-16, they sit at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference with the playoffs nowhere near in sight for the second time in three years.

Before Saturday's game at Lumen Field, the LA Galaxy had given up 56 goals during the regular season. They had scored only 33, as well.

This has been quite the opposite of the defending MLS Cup champion's successful season last year. In 2024, the LA Galaxy only allowed 50 goals all season. They scored 69 goals, which ranked first in the Western Conference and third-best in the league.

In their latest match, the Los Angeles Galaxy did a couple of things that they haven't been able to do at Lumen Field. The six-time MLS Cup winners had yet to score against the Seattle Sounders in 2025. A pair of shutout victories against the Sounders this year has added to the LA Galaxy's woes.

On the road against Seattle, Los Angeles had not scored more than one goal in a game since 2022. On Saturday, the LA Galaxy would score twice, bringing the match to a 2-2 draw.

Two unlikely heroes provided the LA Galaxy with all of the offense.

The Los Angeles Galaxy were down 2-0 early in the game. The Seattle Sounders got first-half goals from Jesús Ferreira and Daniel Musovski. The LA Galaxy were without many of their stars due to various injuries.

Maya Yoshida, the captain for the LA Galaxy, was able to respond minutes after Musovski's goal with one of his own. In his 22nd start and 24th game of the 2025 MLS regular season, Yoshida found the back of the net for the second time. His other goal came in another draw against another Western Conference foe, LAFC.

Just before stoppage time kicked in during the second half, Yoshida's teammate and fellow Japanese-born defender, Miki Yamane, also scored. This was his first-ever MLS goal and it was a rather vital one, too.

Both players for the LA Galaxy are near the end of the careers, as Yoshida is 37 and Yamane is 31. Yoshida and Yamane are signed through next season, should they return or not be moved.

The two veteran defenders have been a great role models and mentors for younger players on the roster like Emiro Garces and Julian Aude. Both Garces and Aude were ruled out due to ongoing foot injuries.

LA Galaxy midfielders Marco Reus, Lucas Sanabria, and forward Matheus Nascimento all missed Saturday's game at Lumen Field against the Sounders. Next up, should they all be healthy, is a home match against FC Cincinnati.

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