Galaxy offense proves a much-needed spark in rout over CF Montreal

CARSON — The Galaxy might have stumbled upon a path to success.

Entering Monday night’s game against CF Montreal, the Galaxy had a 6-1-1 record in matches when it scored the first goal.

Make that now 7-1-1.

Thanks to a ninth-minute goal from Chicharito Hernandez, a first-half stoppage time penalty kick by Dejan Joveljic, the Galaxy (8-6-3, 27 points) was well on its way to what turned into a 4-0 rout over CF Montreal in front of 23,855 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“The first goal was really important,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “It was the intention of our group to come out with a different intensity at the start.

“We’ve had a couple of home games where we’ve been so calculated at the start and we didn’t get going until we’re down a goal. The guys really had that spur of energy tonight.”

The win is the Galaxy’s first since May 29 when it defeated Austin FC heading into the international break. The club played just two MLS games in June, losing 3-2 to Minnesota United FC and drawing against Portland (1-1).

By the time the Galaxy’s game kicked off, the club had finally dropped below the playoff line in the Western Conference. With the win, it moves back up to fourth ahead of Friday’s final regular-season meeting with rival Los Angeles Football Club.

“It was a very complete performance for us, but the job is not done,” Hernandez said. “Until the job is done, you can’t relax. We need to keep going.”

Last Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota United came despite a strong second half that saw the Galaxy score two goals with just 10 men. The talk all week after that game was finding a way to build off of that second-half performance.

With a 1-0 lead late in the first half, the Galaxy got a break as CF Montreal defender Joel Waterman was called for a handball inside the area. Referee Tim Ford went over the Video Review and confirmed it.

While he did that, Dejan Joveljic, who was in the starting lineup, had picked up the ball and walked toward the penalty spot. Joveljic converted the kick to give the Galaxy a 2-0 halftime lead. The goal was Joveljic’s sixth in MLS competition this season.

For Hernandez his goal was his seventh this season and his first since May 29.

Galaxy midfielder, turned forward Rayan Raveloson delivered the final blows in the second half. In the 60th minute Julian Araujo played a low cross to the far post that Raveloson met for the easy tap-in. Raveloson added a second goal, this time in the 80th minute off of a perfect backheel pass from Sacha Kljestan for the 4-0 lead.

“From the beginning, our intensity, our mentality of each and every individual on the field was sharp,” midfielder Mark Delgado said. “Everyone was locked in and we gave up nothing.”

By the time he scored his second goal, Raveloson was playing in the lone forward position and he capped the night playing like one.

Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond made three saves as he recorded his sixth clean sheet of the season.

This was the first meeting between the teams since 2019. In eight previous meetings, the Galaxy had lost only once against Montreal. The Galaxy now holds a 5-1-3 all-time mark against Montreal.