CARSON — In a start to the season that has been filled with absences and missed opportunities, the Galaxy put it all together Wednesday in the second leg of their Round of 16 series in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Galaxy entered the meeting trailing CS Herediano 1-0 after last Wednesday’s los s in Costa Rica. This time, the Galaxy capitalized on their chances and possession, unlike Sunday’s MLS loss against St. Louis City SC. In the end, the team that had only goal all season, scored four against Herediano for a 4-1 win in front of 9,011 at Dignity Health Sports Park, advancing the Galaxy into the quarterfinals by an aggregate score of 4-2. “I thought the collective performance was really good tonight,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “The ball was moving quickly, the positions we were finding and taking up were really good, we were creating a lot of problems for them trying to figure out how to get to the ball and how to press it. I felt like we almost always had solutions for each other. We found good moments to change the speed of the game. Overall, just a really good collective performance.” The Galaxy will face Mexican club Tigres in the quarterfinals. Tigres defeated FC Cincinnati on an aggregate score of 4-2. The dates are yet to be finalized, but according to CONCACAF, they will be played “in the first half of April.” Tigres has been dominant against MLS competition, currently carrying a 16-game unbeaten streak against MLS opponents in Champions Cup play. Gabriel Pec (53rd minute) and Christian Ramirez (76th minute) put the game out of reach and put the Galaxy one foot into the quarterfinals. The Galaxy took a 2-0 lead into halftime, which put them in good shape as long as they didn’t allow a goal. The second goal came in the 38th minute on a Miguel Berry tap-in in front of the goal. The play was set up by Tucker Lepley’s end-line run, crossing back to Isaiah Parente, who sent the ball back toward Berry. The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 30th minute on Julian Aude’s shot off the post that rolled over the line. Aude found himself unmarked approximately 12 yards from the goal. He took possession on a pass from Parente and hit it first-time, with his left foot. Aude’s goal gave the Galaxy its first lead of 2025. “Really pleased with the guys,” Vanney said. “A lot of guys had good performances. As each one of these games comes and goes, it mounts a little bit, the feeling, and today was a great emotion. We didn’t have to grind through it. We really performed as a group, which is nice. Today it felt like was another step forward for the group.” Herediano won the first leg on an Elias Aguilar goal in the 65th minute. The Costa Rican club currently sits in second place in the Primera Division with 25 points (7-1-4). The Galaxy last won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2021. The last MLS team to win the tournament was the Seattle Sounders in 2022. Galaxy coach Greg Vanney took Toronto FC to the 2018 final, losing to Chivas. The Galaxy’s start to the regular season has been a dismal one. In three MLS games, the Galaxy have scored only one goal and lost all three games with a -7 goal differential. The Galaxy return to league play on Sunday with a road game against the Portland Timbers, followed by a March 22 visit to Minnesota United. The next home game is March 29 against Orlando City SC. Related Articles Los Angeles Galaxy | Teenager Harbor Miller remains confident as he moves up Galaxy’s depth chart Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy remain winless after loss to St. Louis City SC Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy seek solutions for hapless 0-3 start Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy drop CONCACAF Champions Cup opener to Herediano Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy open CONCACAF Champions Cup play in Costa Rica against C.S. Herediano ...read more read less