LA Galaxy Suffer Heavy Defeat to St. Louis City SC in Disappointing Start to 2025 Season

Carson, CA – March 9, 2025 – The LA Galaxy, reigning MLS Cup champions, continued their rocky start to the 2025 Major League Soccer season with a resounding 3-0 loss to St. Louis City SC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening. The defeat marks the Galaxy’s third consecutive loss in league play and their fourth straight across all competitions, signaling a troubling championship hangover for a team expected to contend once again this year.

The match, billed as a "Sunday Night Soccer" feature on MLS Season Pass, began with promise for the home side. The Galaxy showcased some of their best chance creation of the young season in the first half, generating several opportunities but failing to convert. However, the tide turned just before the break when St. Louis struck first, a goal that seemed to sap the energy and momentum from the hosts. Cedric Teuchert opened the scoring for St. Louis in the 43rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to put the visitors ahead 1-0.

The second half was a different story entirely. The Galaxy collapsed under pressure as St. Louis City SC asserted dominance. Simon Becher doubled the lead in the 67th minute, effectively putting the game out of reach. The final nail in the coffin came late when Becher assisted on a third goal, sealing a 3-0 victory and sending Galaxy fans heading for the exits early. Posts on X captured the frustration, with one user noting, "St. Louis put this game to bed with its third goal of the match. People are heading to the exits as LA will continue its poor start to the 2025 season."

The Galaxy’s struggles were compounded by injuries to key players, including Riqui Puig (knee), Miki Yamane (thigh), Joseph Paintsil (thigh), and Mauricio Cuevas (hamstring), which have left the squad depleted. Despite the presence of veterans like Marco Reus and Maya Yoshida, the team has lacked cohesion and creativity. Reus, in particular, has faced criticism for failing to step up as the attacking fulcrum in Puig’s absence, a point highlighted by analysts who expected more from the German legend.

St. Louis City SC, under new manager Olof Mellberg, arrived in California with a stout defensive record—having not conceded in their first two matches of the season—and they maintained that solidity while exploiting the Galaxy’s vulnerabilities. Goalkeeper Roman Bürki recorded another clean sheet, his third in as many games, as St. Louis handed the Galaxy their heaviest defeat of the young campaign. The visitors’ attacking trio of Teuchert, Becher, and Marcel Hartel proved too much for LA’s backline, which has looked shaky without its full complement of starters.

For the Galaxy, the loss raises early questions about their ability to defend their title. After a promising first half, the team’s inability to regroup after conceding was stark. As one X post observed, "For all the good they showed in the first half with chance creation the best we've seen, the Galaxy just collapsed through the second half. Giving up a goal before the half killed everything about how they were playing." The sentiment reflects a broader concern: the Galaxy have yet to find their rhythm in 2025, sitting at 0-0-3 in MLS play with zero points to show for their efforts.

Head coach Greg Vanney now faces mounting pressure to turn things around. With a talented roster, albeit one hampered by injuries, the expectation was that the Galaxy would remain competitive even in the face of adversity. Instead, they’ve looked disjointed and vulnerable, a far cry from the team that lifted the MLS Cup just months ago. Upcoming fixtures, including a trip to face the Portland Timbers in three weeks, loom large as opportunities to right the ship—or sink further into an early-season slump.

For St. Louis, the victory marks their first win of the season and a statement performance against the defending champions. The team’s defensive overhaul under Mellberg has paid dividends, and their counterattacking prowess was on full display in Carson. With this result, St. Louis improves to 1-2-0, building momentum as they head back home to face the Colorado Rapids next.

Ramirez on as the play continues

As the Galaxy lick their wounds, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team responds. The 2025 season is still young, but for a club with LA’s pedigree, the clock is already ticking to rediscover their championship form. For now, St. Louis City SC walks away with bragging rights and three crucial points, leaving the Galaxy searching for answers in a campaign that’s quickly gone off the rails.