MLS: Paintsil brace puts Los Angeles Galaxy beyond reach of Vancouver

Photo: LA Galaxy/Facebook

It has been a disaster of a season so far for the defending champions in Major League Soccer but Los Angeles Galaxy and Joseph Paintsil gave their supporters something to celebrate with Friday evening's 3-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps.

The struggling Ghanaian winger put the Galaxy up 2-0 on the hour mark with a curled finish from Marco Reus' clever assist. Paintsil then finished off visitors Vancouver with a penalty kick in the 77th minute following a foul.

Loan signing Matheus Nascimento put the hosts ahead inside two minutes, a much needed momentum boost. The match was fairly even for long stretches but Paintsil's first strike in the second half made the task more difficult for a weakened Whitecaps attack.

Despite the victory, the Galaxy have a ghastly record of only 12 points in 21 league games. The absence of playmaker Riqui Puig continues to haunt the Galaxy attack since the former Barcelona midfielder suffered a long-term knee injury in the MLS Cup Playoff final last season that secured the title.

Paintsil has been one of the main victims of Puig's absence. Before the brace on Friday, the 27-year-old had only scored once in thirteen league games for a club that only has two victories in MLS play this season.

The Galaxy and their Ghanaian star will look to make it two wins in a row when they host DC United next Saturday.