3 Reasons Why the LA Galaxy Beat D.C. United on Saturday, and 1 Why They Don't | OneFootball

Since 2003, two of Major League Soccer's most successful and winningest franchises will take the field against one another in Carson, California, on Saturday evening. This will be a battle between the first-ever and the latest MLS Cup winner.

Neither team this season appears to be on its way to the playoffs. DC United has not been to an MLS Cup Finals in over a decade. The LA Galaxy had a similar, but shorter streak going, until last December.

Going 2-2-1 in their past five games, this is the best that the Los Angeles Galaxy has looked all year. They scored three goals in two different matches and two in another during this stretch.

Should the LA Galaxy be favored over DC United?

Yes. Why not? As mentioned, they are on the hottest streak they have had all year. Scoring nine goals in a five-game window has been typical of the 2025 LA Galaxy.

1. DC United has not won a game since May 31.

They went the entire month of June not winning. Granted, the LA Galaxy went 16 games before winning to open the season.

First, United lost 7-1 to the Chicago Fire to open up June. Then, they followed that up with two more defeats (Real Salt Lake and Nashville SC). The LA Galaxy went 0-2-1 in June, which is still better than 0-0-3.

2. The LA Galaxy's next opponent may have a worse offense than their own.

DC United is losing and losing badly. The Fire outscored them by six. Next, DC was shut out in its next three matches.

Dominique Badji is the last player to score for the four-time MLS Cup champions. Outside of Christian Benteke, no one else on that team has score more than twice.

3. For a change, the LA Galaxy will be playing a team with a worse goal differential than them.

United has allowed 39 goals but only put up 17 of their own. That's a goal differential of -22, tied for the worst in the league with CF Montreal.

The LA Galaxy went from a -23 to a -20 thanks to their 3-0 victory on Independence Day against a less-than-full-strength Vancouver Whitecaps team.

Why the LA Galaxy may get served a loss by DC United

Both teams know what it's like to get hammered by an Eastern Conference foe with seven goals in a game. The Los Angeles Galaxy got thwarted in a 7-0 shutout to the New York Red Bulls in May.

DC United got hosed by the Fire 7-1. Yet, their defense has seen improvements in each game since. United lost 2-0 to Real Salt Lake and then limited Nashville to one score. DC followed this up with a 0-0 draw against Atlanta United, who was good enough to make the MLS Eastern Conference Finals last year.

If the LA Galaxy don't score early like they did in their last game on July 4th, they could fall behind or struggle the rest of the game to find the back of the net.

This contest should be a low-scoring game given the two teams on the field on Saturday. Expect the LA Galaxy to not only pull off their third win of the season, but it could also be another shutout.