On a memorable Wednesday night in Kansas City, Calvin Harris and Dejan Joveljić delivered a masterclass performance, propelling Sporting Kansas City to a decisive 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy. The win was a breath of fresh air for Sporting KC, snapping an eight-match winless streak under first-year manager Raphaël Wicky and ending an equally frustrating eight-match winless run at home that stretched back to last season.
Interestingly, Sporting KC's only other win this season also came against the Galaxy—a 2-1 road triumph on March 14, where Joveljić also found the back of the net. This time, the action started in the 32nd minute when Capita Capemba scored his first career goal in just his sixth appearance, with assists from Harris and Lasse Berg Johnsen to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Just before halftime, Joveljić struck again, doubling the lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time with help from Harris and defender Zorhan Bassong. The goal marked his sixth of the season and his 24th in 44 appearances for his new club. It was a particularly sweet moment for Joveljić, who scored 34 goals for the Galaxy from 2021 to 2024—including the winner in the 2024 MLS Cup final against the New York Red Bulls—before being traded in the offseason.
The momentum carried into the second half, with Harris adding his name to the scoresheet in the 70th minute. Assisted by Manu García and Jacob Bartlett, Harris netted his first goal of the season and the 12th of his career, pushing the lead to 3-0. Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland was solid between the posts, recording six saves in his third start of the season.
The Galaxy, known for their league-best 22-match scoring streak, finally broke through in the 89th minute when Gabriel Pec scored his 10th goal of the season, with assists from Justin Haak and former Sporting KC player Erik Thommy. Pec had previously scored two late goals in a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, continuing his hot form.
The victory ties the all-time series between the two clubs at 29-29-18, with Sporting KC improving to 20-10-9 at home against the Galaxy. Joveljić, meanwhile, has now scored in three straight matches against his former teammates, adding a layer of drama to an already thrilling rivalry.
Next up, the Galaxy face a quick turnaround as they visit the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. For Sporting KC, this win could be the spark they need to turn their season around.