CARSON — One of the final chapters on the Galaxy’s 2025 season might read, finished in last place.
There can now be an additional chapter about that last-place team securing a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Galaxy, thanks to a 67th-minute goal by Joseph Paintsil, held off Orlando City SC 2-1 in the third-place game of the Leagues Cup tournament Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park in front of a sun-drenched crowd of 12,129.
The top three finishers in the tournament earn a spot in next year’s Champions Cup. The Galaxy, which competed in this year’s edition CONCACAF tournament, will begin in the first round.
By winning the MLS Cup, the Galaxy earned a spot in the 2025 Champions Cup, where they beat CS Herediano in the Round of 16 before falling to Tigres in the quarterfinals.
The game was the second meeting this season between the teams. Back in March, also at Dignity Health Sports Park, Orlando City edged the Galaxy 2-1 on Luis Muriel’s 90th-minute winner.
Just like that first game, Orlando City found a tying goal in the second half. Martin Ojeda’s side volley after finding just a bit of space settled into the side netting, making it 1-1, turning the momentum in the game.
Before Paintsil’s goal, Gabriel Pec tried to go through and around the Orlando City defense, but he lost the ball. In the transition, the ball made its way back toward Paintsil, who beat Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese from just outside the 18, with the ball tucking inside the near corner for the 2-1 lead.
The Galaxy nearly increased their lead moments later, but Paintsil had a shot that hit the crossbar, and then the rebound, by Miki Yamane, was on goal, but Gallese, who was deep inside the goal, managed to keep the ball out. With no goal-line technology, there was no replay to see if the ball had crossed the line and into the goal.
The rest of the game turned into one of survival, with the Galaxy fulfilling all of their five subs, but also having to hold their breath down the stretch.
The Galaxy had taken a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on Marco Reus’ goal.
Orlando City lost to Inter Miami 3-1 in last Wednesday’s semifinal. The Galaxy’s semifinal loss against Seattle was the lone regulation loss for the club in the Leagues Cup tournament.
The Galaxy will return to MLS play Saturday on the road against the Houston Dynamo.
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