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LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus, right, takes a goal shot defended by Colorado Rapids defender Reggie Cannon during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. LA Galaxy won 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus, right, takes a goal shot defended by Colorado Rapids defender Reggie Cannon during the second half of an MLS match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. LA Galaxy won 3-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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CARSON — It was a night of firsts for the Galaxy that all added up to a win over Colorado.
Harbor Miller and Elijah Wynder both featured in a heavily-rotated starting lineup with the all-important Leagues Cup semifinal set for Wednesday.
Both took advantage of the extended playing time and each scored their first MLS goals in a 3-0 win for the Galaxy (4-16-7, 19 points) in front of 20,203 at Dignity Health Sports Park Saturday.
Miller, 18, had made six appearances earlier this season, including starting in Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Champions Cup game in March. Saturday was his first first-team appearance since April. He highlighted it with a goal in the seventh minute to get the Galaxy off and running.
“Harbor’s a kid with a ton of confidence and building,” Vanney said of Miller. “He was going back to his days as an academy player, out on the wing, but we wanted to use him kind of as a hybrid, wingback, so he would defend a little bit lower and match (Reggie) Cannon a little bit on the defensive side.
“He was mature, (made) good decisions and showed a ton of confidence out there. He’s ready for the level. This is where he needs to be and continuing to play and progress and move his game.”
In the second half, Wynder, 22, made it 2-0 with a tap-in off of an assist from Miki Yamane in the 55th minute.
“I think a big part of it was their commitment to their jobs on the day and to each other,” Vanney said. “I thought Elijah was awesome tonight. He was really, really good. I thought his field awareness, his feel for time, his relationship with Edwin was really good, his power to carry beyond line and to drive the game forward.”
Vanney brought on starters Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec and Marco Reus in the 64th minute. Pec put the game away in the 75th minute, beating Zack Steffen through the legs for the goal.
Chris Rindov, 23, who is on short-term loan from Ventura County FC, made his first MLS start and his Galaxy debut at center back. He went the distance in the game. Rindov’s MLS debut came in 2023 with Sporting Kansas City.
Another important first came in goal for the JT Marcinkowski, who made his Galaxy debut.
Marcinkowski’s last MLS appearance came in 2023, when he was a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. In October of that year, he suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss all of 2024. He joined the Galaxy in January, but was behind both Novak Mićović and John McCarthy on the depth chart. The Galaxy recently traded McCarthy to the New York Red Bulls, moving Marcinkowski to the No. 2. It was a rather quiet night for him, making only one save, but it was the Galaxy’s first league shutout since July 4 against the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-0).
It will take a lot of work and help for the Galaxy to climb into playoff contention, which makes the next week so important as they wrap up Leagues Cup. At 19 points, the Galaxy are two points behind D.C. United and St. Louis City SC in the race to avoid being last in the league.
After the Leagues Cup semifinal against the Seattle Sounders (Aug. 27), the Galaxy will either play in the third-place game or final, set for Aug. 31. A top-three finish would secure a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup.
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