Riqui Puig, Dejan Joveljic lift Galaxy to 2-2 draw at Nashville

Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic lift Galaxy to 2-2 draw at Nashville

Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic dribbles between Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge, left, and defender Brent Kallman.

Associated Press

March 10, 2024 3:03 PM PT

NASHVILLE — Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic scored the final two goals in a wild second half and the Galaxy rallied for a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC on Sunday.

Neither team scored until Teal Bunbury connected on a penalty kick in the 54th minute to give Nashville (0-0-3) the lead. Bunbury’s goal came after the Galaxy’s Joseph Paintsil fouled Dru Yearwood in the penalty area.

Yearwood took a pass from McKinze Gaines and scored just four minutes later to stretch the lead to 2-0.

Puig got the Galaxy (1-0-2) on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the 67th minute.

Joveljic pulled LA even in the 82nd minute when he used an assist from Julián Aude to score for a third time this season. Joveljic had six goals in 19 starts and 32 appearances for the Galaxy last season.

John McCarthy totaled two saves for the Galaxy. Elliot Panicco saved six shots in his first start of the season and the fifth of his career over the last three seasons for Nashville.

The Galaxy improved to 2-0-2 all time versus Nashville. The last time the two clubs met ended in a 1-0 Galaxy victory in the first round of the 2022 playoffs.

Tyler Boyd faced his former teammates for the first time after being traded to Nashville on Dec. 30.