Joseph Paintsil scores as Los Angeles Galaxy end shocking 17-match MLS winless streak
- Andrew Olsson
- Jun 1
- 1 min read
After seventeen games of futility to begin the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign, Joseph Paintsil and reigning American champions Los Angeles Galaxy finally earned their first league victory on Saturday evening with a 2-0 result over Real Salt Lake.
The Ghanaian scored a trademark goal early in the second half to put the hosts beyond reach. Receiving the ball on the left wing in space, Paintsil ran at the Real Salt Lake defense before finishing past RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.
It has been a big surprise this season for the Galaxy who suffered early in the season due to the injury absences of Paintsil as well as Riqui Puig, who continues to be out with a long-term knee ailment. Paintsil missed the first seven games of the 2025 MLS season, a stretch during which the Galaxy struggled to create goals in league play.
Despite the awful start, there is still time for Paintsil and the Galaxy to bounce back as the MLS season approaches its midway point. Thirteen points separate Los Angeles from the playoff positions in the Western Conference after collecting seven points through their seventeen matches so far.
After registering an impressive 14 goals and 9 assists in MLS play last season from 34 appearances, Saturday marked Paintsil's first goal in MLS this season. He has 2 goals and 1 assist from 12 games in all competitions this season, previously scoring in a 2-3 CONCACAF Champions Cup defeat to Mexican giants Tigres as Los Angeles crashed out of the competition in the quarterfinals.
