Ex factor: Dejan Joveljić sinks former club in LA Galaxy reunion | OneFootball

By Harrison Hamm

Dejan Joveljić spent four seasons playing at Dignity Health Sports Park. In Matchday 4's Walmart Saturday Showdown, he stunned, then saluted, his former home crowd.

Dejan Joveljic

Forward · Sporting Kansas City

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Sporting Kansas City’s star striker, acquired from the LA Galaxy for $4 million last year in the first cash-for-player trade in MLS history, scored a remarkable solo goal to spur a 2-1 victory against his former club. 

In the process, Kansas City picked up their first win under manager Raphael Wicky.

“It’s always a special thing to come here and play in front of the LA fans,” Joveljić told reporters post-match.

After Saturday's goal, Joveljić quickly put his hands up to the quieted Galaxy faithful and made a heart signal — a nod to his successful tenure in LA.

"We won the title together, and I’m very proud of my time there," he added.

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Statement performance

Joveljić has been among the league’s top scorers since his July 2021 arrival. Saturday's goal, which came on an impressive slaloming run through the Galaxy defense, was his 55th in 142 MLS matches. 

Sporting's Lasse Berg Johnsen, making his MLS debut, would later extend the lead, finishing off a clever dummy by Joveljić.

The visitors weathered the Marco Reus-led Galaxy attack late to come away with a statement road victory.

“Coming here to Galaxy, against a very good team, and to have a win is very, very big for us,” Wicky said.

Joveljić, wearing the captain’s armband, is the star man as SKC embark on a new era.

If that means scoring against his former club, so be it. In fact, he's already done it twice in three games, while finding the back of the net in seven straight appearances at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“Every time I come here, I have to be 120 percent ready,” Joveljić said. “Unfortunately for them, I am going to keep scoring against them.”

WATCH: Dejan Joveljić's heroics vs. former club leads Sporting KC to first win