LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna Lineups, Starting XI & Score | Leagues Cup 2025

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California Competition: Leagues Cup 2025 | Phase One Date: August 7, 2025 | Kickoff: 8:45 p.m. PT Final Score: LA Galaxy 4 – 0 Santos Laguna

The LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna lineups are in, and the reigning MLS champions set up in a sharp 4-3-3 to take on the Liga MX side’s 3-4-2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. It was a must-win situation for both clubs heading into the final Phase One fixture. Galaxy needed points to advance. Santos needed a miracle. Only one of them got what they came for.

LA Galaxy Starting Lineup (4-3-3)

Full official lineup confirmed by LA Galaxy

Substitutes: JT Marcinkowski, John McCarthy, John Nelson, Miki Yamane, Zanka, Eriq Zavaleta, Tucker Lepley, Isaiah Parente, Lucas Sanabria, Elijah Wynder, Miguel Berry, Christian Ramirez

Key Players to Watch — Galaxy Side

Matheus Nascimento ended up as the man of the moment, scoring twice on the night (39th minute and 74th minute) to put the match to bed. The Brazilian forward had tallied four goals and four assists in 20 regular season appearances heading into this fixture.

Joseph Paintsil was a constant threat and registered seven shots, four on goal. The Ghanaian winger now has 35 goal contributions across 58 appearances in Galaxy colors.

Marco Reus came in with serious momentum: 14 goal contributions across his last 16 appearances for the club. The former Dortmund captain started in the attacking midfield role and was heavily involved throughout the first half.

Maya Yoshida wore the captain’s armband and contributed on the scoresheet as well, tapping in from close range at the end of first-half stoppage time to make it 3-0. The Japan international, who has played in three FIFA World Cups, was the only Galaxy player to appear in every MLS match during the 2024 season.

Santos Laguna Starting Lineup (3-4-2-1)

Full match lineups and stats via ESPN

Substitutes: David Sanchez, Hector Holguin, Jesus Ocejo, Diego Medina, Aldo Lopez, Edson Gutierrez, Jose Abella, Emmanuel Echeverria, Francisco Villalba, Kevin Palacios, Franco Fagundez, Bruno Barticciotto

How Santos Laguna’s Night Fell Apart

Santos came in winless across five Liga MX away matches and that trend continued in Carson. Their night got significantly worse in first-half stoppage time when Antony Lozano picked up a second yellow card and was sent off. Just seconds into the second half, Ramiro Sordo followed him down the tunnel with a violent conduct red card.

Santos ended the half with both a 3-0 deficit and two fewer players. They registered zero shots on target across 90 minutes.

Match Stats at a Glance

Live stats and play-by-play on Sofascore

How the Goals Went In

1′ — Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring within the first minute to set the tone early.

39′ — Matheus Nascimento (assist: Mauricio Cuevas) — Yoshida played the ball out to Cuevas on the right flank. His low cross found Nascimento, who flicked it past Carlos Acevedo.

45+5′ — Maya Yoshida — Paintsil’s long-range effort was parried by Acevedo. Yoshida was first to the loose ball and tapped in from point-blank range.

74′ — Matheus Nascimento (assist: Lucas Sanabria) — Sanabria’s shot from inside the penalty area deflected off Nascimento and into the net.

Related Reading – TopHillSports

What Comes Next

With this result, the LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna Leagues Cup Group Stage matchup ended as a statement performance from Greg Vanney’s side. Galaxy finished Phase One third in the MLS table with a record of 2-0-1 (10 goals for, 3 against, +7 goal difference) and advanced to face C.F. Pachuca in the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals.

Santos Laguna exited the tournament without a single win.