Photo courtesy of the LA Galaxy.
Dejan Joveljic was in a celabretory mood after scoring the winning goal against Nashville SC.
Not much had come Dejan Joveljic’s way so far this season.
Since coming over to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the middle of last season, Joveljic has been in and out of the starting 11, and so far this season, Joveljic has come off the bench in six of the Galaxy’s nine total matches. In fact, Tuesday’s US Open Cup match was the first time this season Joveljic started and went the full 90 minutes.
Saturday’s match against Nashville SC was more of the same, as Joveljic came off the bench in the 77th minute. This time however, Joveljic made the biggest impact, as he scored late in the second half, and his goal enabled the Galaxy to escape with the three points courtesy of the 1-0 win at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“The best feeling in the world is when you score,” Joveljic said. “That’s something that you cannot describe. You just need to feel it.”
After 85 minutes, and a scoreless draw looking more and more likely, the Galaxy finally got that elusive goal. Julian Araujo sent a ball into the penalty area, Derrick Williams eventually brought the ball down, played a short pass to Joveljic, and he didn’t hesitate, as he one-timed a shot that beat keeper Joe Willis far post. Joveljic then went into the stands to celebrate with the supporters group, the LA Riot Squad.
“I was searching for the ball before that to someone across the ball and it bounced to Derrick,” Joveljic said. “He just played it to me and I found a great place.”
While the match was scoreless for 85 minutes, the Galaxy certainly tried to put the ball in the back net. LA’s first chance in the 10th minute, as Samuel Grandsir played Kevin Cabral into the penalty area, Cabral shot for the near post, but the shot was tipped by Willis over the end line. The Galaxy had another chance in the 29th minute, as they had a free kick from about 25 yards out, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez sent the sent piece on target, but Willis made the save.
The Galaxy kept up the pressure in the second half. Efrain Alvarez received a ball from Cabral, Alvarez actually took the ball back out of the penalty area, but that moved enabled him to get himself set, and he wound up and took the shot on goal, but the ball hit off the far post. The Galaxy’s other chances in the second half came when Douglas Costa sent a free kick towards goal in the 67th minute, but the set piece just missed the crossbar. In the 81st minute, Raheem Edwards played a ball to Chicharito, who darted past the Nashville defense into the penalty area and shot at goal, but Willis denied Chicharito with the kick save.
