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Galaxy bring 3-goal lead into Champions Cup game vs. Mount Pleasant FA

March 19, 2026

The old adage in soccer is that a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous in the game.

Thursday, the Galaxy will test just how safe a 3-0 lead is as the club heads into the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 series against Mount Pleasant FA of Jamaica.

Thanks to a pair of late goals from Gabriel Pec in the first leg March 11, the Galaxy secured a 3-0 win and lead in the series. The goals came extremely late – 89th minute and the sixth minute of stoppage time – to give the Galaxy a bit of breathing room.

Just how much is the ultimate question?

“We’re not resting on the fact that we have a 3-0 lead, we need to come in, play this match as its 0-0 and put our best selves out there,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said Wednesday from Jamaica. “We know we have a tough competition in front of us, somewhat of a different team, and we know being in Jamaica on their home field, with the fans, it’s going to be a tough night.

“I think our mindset has to be to come in and try to approach this game like we have to come in and win the game and play from there.”

In the second leg, the Galaxy don’t have to win to advance. An early goal by the Galaxy would put all of the pressure on Mount Pleasant, forcing the home club to push for five goals to win.

An early goal by Mount Pleasant would transfer the pressure toward the Galaxy, who would then either have to bunker in to hold a two-goal lead or try to push for one, which would be all-important road goal.

The first leg went off under strange circumstances. Mount Pleasant had several players unable to play due to visa issues entering the United States. Still, the squad that coach Theodore Whitmore sent out was determined enough to hold the Galaxy to only a sixth-minute goal until the late one-two punch from Pec.

After serving a one-game suspension in the Galaxy’s MLS game Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, Pec will be back in action Thursday.

According to Jamaica Observer, Mount Pleasant started a pair of teenagers and a pair of U-20 players in the first leg.

“Despite the challenges, we would have probably been without 12 to 13 of our regular players, but we make no excuses,” Whitmore said after the first leg in Carson. “I think the boys tonight, they put in a decent shift … we conceded three goals, but overall, I think it was a decent performance from our team.”

The Galaxy, who made the long trip to Jamaica, arrived Tuesday evening. The club will depart Friday and head to Portland for an MLS game Sunday (1:45 p.m.) against the Timbers.

“Now, we are really focused on tomorrow (Thursday), because we know what it takes to win a game and to suffer in all of these things and we have to try both tomorrow and we will do it,” Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus said. “Then after tomorrow, we can focus on MLS, but now it’s really to focus on tomorrow.”

The winner of this series will face San Diego FC or Toluca in the quarterfinals, which will take place next month.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP

Who: Galaxy vs. Mount Pleasant FA

When: 4 p.m. PT Thursday

Where: Independence Park, Sabina Park, Jamaica

How to watch: FS1, TUDN (Spanish)

Orange County Register

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Galaxy bring 3-goal lead into Champions Cup game vs. Mount Pleasant FA

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