Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney believes his team is entering a crucial point of the season, and wants to come through it with the playoffs still within their grasp. 

The Galaxy picked up just their second win of the season last time out, crushing Western Conference high-flyers Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on home soil. 

They find themselves 14 points behind ninth-placed Austin FC after 21 games of their season, with an important run of fixtures coming up over the next couple of months. 

Vanney's team have five of their next nine league games at Dignity Health Sports Park, and Vanney believes these results will be crucial heading into August.

"For us as a group, it's continuing to try to improve, look at the next opposition, try to execute what we want to do against the next opposition, build confidence in the guys who had good nights tonight," Vanney said.

"Continue to build on the things that we're trying to do. I just think when we are in a good rhythm we're working for each other, and we're starting to work again within our principles and the things we're trying to do. We're a good team.

"It's been more about us taking the points that I feel like we deserve on a night, not making mistakes late in the game, finishing opportunities that we're creating and things like that.

"Hopefully, it comes together in a real stretch. I think we have, what, seven of the next 12 or something like that at home. It's a nice time to try to build momentum and try to take points, and we'll end up wherever we end up.

"The key is one game at a time and try to take the maximum points, but do it in a way where we're playing each moment of the game the way it needs to be played."

And the Galaxy's run begins with a home clash against D.C. United, who saw their winless run extend to four matches after a goalless draw with Atlanta United last time out. 

That game proved to be Troy Lesesne's final match in the dugout, with D.C. confirming earlier this week that the head coach had been relieved of his duties. 

Lesesne, who replaced Wayne Rooney in January 2024, took charge of 60 games across all competitions, winning 18 of those matches (D17 L25). 

"We want to thank Troy for his dedication over the last two seasons," said Ally Mackay, D.C. United's general manager and chief soccer officer in a statement. 

"After internal discussions, we have decided to part ways with Troy and go in a different direction as a club.

"Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately with a focus on identifying a leader who aligns with our club's identity and long-term vision.

"This is a pivotal moment for D.C. United, and we are committed to making the right decision for the future of our team."

The team also dismissed assistant coach Zach Prince and named academy director Kevin Flanagan as interim head coach.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Joseph Paintsil

Paintsil scored twice in the win over Vancouver after having scored just once this season in his 13 games prior to that.

The Ghanaian joins Rayan Raveloson (Madagascar), also on the Fourth of July (in 2022), as the only African players to have a multi-goal MLS match for the Galaxy.

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

The odds are seemingly stacked against D.C. given their turbulent week off the pitch, with this the perfect time for Benteke to step up and use all of his experience. 

The Belgian is yet to find the back of the net after his recent injury, but has six goals in his 14 league appearances this season. He scored against the Galaxy in his only appearance against them, a 3-0 victory back in May 2023. 

MATCH PREDICTION: LA GALAXY WIN

Despite being the underdogs according to Opta's data-led simulations, D.C. United are on a four-match unbeaten run against the Galaxy (W2 D2), having scored multiple goals in each of the last three meetings. That ties the longest streak of matches with multiple goals for D.C. in the fixture, also doing so in 2008-09.

However, dating back to 2023, D.C. United has allowed at least two goals in each of their last seven road MLS matches against Western Conference opponents (W1 D3 L3). This season, the club's two road matches against the West have been a 6-1 loss at San Jose in April and a 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake last month.

But the Galaxy are on their way back. On Independence Day, they notched their second victory of the season against Vancouver. They have now earned eight points over their last five matches (W2 D2 L1) after notching just four over their first 16 MLS matches in 2025 (D4 L12).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 58%

Draw – 21.8%

D.C. United – 20.2%