Sporting Kansas City Strike on the Counter to Earn First Win of the 2026 MLS Season

Johnsen’s debut, Joveljic’s finishing, and Pulskamp’s saves lift SKC past the LA Galaxy

Sporting Kansas City didn’t win their first MLS regular season match until week 7 during the 2025 campaign. That slow start became one of the defining themes of last season, as the team struggled to find consistency and rarely looked close to securing wins.

The big difference between this year’s team and last season’s group is the feeling that a win was always within reach. Even through the first few matches of the 2026 season, Sporting Kansas City looked far closer to victory than they ever did in 2025 under Peter Vermes or Kerry Zavagnin. The performances have not been perfect, but they were far better than last term.

On Saturday night, in their fourth match of the MLS regular season, Sporting Kansas City finally broke through with their first victory. The Wizards defeated the LA Galaxy 2–1 in Carson, earning three points in a match that was far from dominant but highly effective.

Sporting Kansas City did not control possession, they did not outshoot their opponent, and they did not complete more passes than the Galaxy. What they did do, however, was capitalize on two well-executed counter-attacks, with goals coming from Dejan Joveljic and new signing Lasse Berg Johnsen. The performance showed clear improvement while also highlighting the work that still needs to be done.

One Midfield Addition Changed the Entire Dynamic

For several weeks I have written that a small increase in quality could dramatically improve this Sporting Kansas City squad. The performance against the Galaxy provided immediate evidence of that theory.

Johnsen made his debut in midfield and immediately brought a sense of calm and structure to the center of the pitch. His presence gave head coach Raphael Wicky greater tactical flexibility, something the team desperately needed after injuries disrupted the squad early in the season.

Justin Reynolds, Ian James, and Zorhan Bassong have all missed matches due to injury during the opening weeks of the campaign. Each of those defenders would have had a strong chance of starting against the Galaxy had they been fully fit. Those absences forced Wicky to shuffle his lineup again, but the arrival of Johnsen helped stabilize the midfield and allowed other players to move into more natural positions.

Jake Davis shifted to right-back as a result of Johnsen’s inclusion in the starting lineup. Wicky also made the somewhat surprising decision to keep Jacob Bartlett in the starting XI.

I’ll be honest about my initial reaction when I saw Bartlett’s name on the team sheet. During preseason I wrote that Bartlett didn’t look like MLS starting XI quality, and I even questioned whether he was MLS level at all. However, the players surrounding someone can significantly influence their performance.

With Manu Garcia and Johnsen operating alongside him, Bartlett delivered a steadier performance than we had seen earlier in the season. However, the bar was low.

The numbers reflect that improvement. Bartlett recorded 39 touches, completed 85% of his passes, and contributed defensively with two tackles and two interceptions. While those statistics are not extraordinary, they demonstrate a level of functionality that Sporting Kansas City needed in midfield. I still believe Bartlett isn’t an MLS starter.

Johnsen Provided the Stability SKC Needed

Although Bartlett’s performance was improved, the standout player in midfield was unquestionably Johnsen. His debut performance showcased exactly why Sporting Kansas City targeted him as a signing.

Johnsen finished the match with five tackles, three clearances, and 11 ball recoveries. He also won 83% of his duels and completed eight passes into the final third.

Those final-third passes are particularly significant because they address one of Sporting Kansas City’s biggest weaknesses so far this season. The team has struggled to consistently move the ball into dangerous attacking areas, which has limited the effectiveness of their forwards.

Even with Johnsen’s influence, the numbers show there is still progress to be made in that area. Sporting Kansas City recorded just 16 touches inside the Galaxy’s penalty area during the match. The Galaxy, by comparison, had 36 touches in Sporting Kansas City’s 18-yard box.

The shot totals also reflected the imbalance, with Sporting Kansas City being outshot 18–7. Despite those numbers, the Wizards remained organized defensively and took advantage of the moments when space opened up in transition.

The Galaxy Were Missing Key Players

Any honest analysis of this match must acknowledge the context surrounding the Galaxy lineup. LA were missing two of their most dangerous attacking players in Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec.

Paintsil’s absence was particularly notable because of his history against Sporting Kansas City. The winger had scored four goals in his previous four matches against Sporting, making him one of the most consistent threats the Wizards had faced in recent meetings.

Even with those absences, however, Sporting Kansas City still had to execute their game plan and find a way to secure the result. In MLS, you can only defeat the team placed in front of you, and that is exactly what the Wizards accomplished in Carson.

A Defensive Unit Built From Trialists

Injuries have forced Wicky to improvise in defense, but the back line has started to show signs of continuity.

Wyatt Meyer, Ethan Bartlow, and Jayden Reid have now been selected together in Sporting Kansas City’s last three matches. For casual observers, it may be easy to overlook just how unexpected that development is. All three players began preseason as trialists.

Their emergence highlights how quickly situations can change in MLS roster building. Players who arrived in camp simply hoping to earn contracts are now starting consistently for Sporting Kansas City.

At least for now, those three defenders appear to have secured their roles in the lineup until the MLS schedule pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June. They are also showing they can cut it at the level. Even if Blorian will take one of the two center-back positions after arriving in the summer.

Another Signing Could Raise the Level Again

Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of Capita on Friday, adding another attacking option to the squad.

The Angolan winger is expected to take one of the starting roles on the wing. I’d assume Capita will displace Shapi Suleymanov in the starting XI. If Johnsen’s debut is any indication, the arrival of another high-quality player could again elevate the overall level of the team.

One player with the right profile can significantly improve the collective performance of a squad.

Tactical Setup: 4-3-3 on Paper, 4-2-3-1 on the Field

MLS and Apple TV’s lineup graphics listed Sporting Kansas City in a 4-3-3 formation, and data platforms such as FotMob categorized the team the same way.

In practice, the shape looked far closer to a 4-2-3-1. Johnsen and Bartlett operated as the double pivot in midfield, while Garcia finally played higher in his preferred No. 10 role behind Joveljic. Shapi moved to the left wing, and Calvin Harris started on the right.

Earlier this season Wicky had used Harris on the left side, so the switch likely reflected a targeted tactical decision. Julian Aude started at left-back for the Galaxy, and Sporting Kansas City may have believed the right side of their attack offered a better opportunity to exploit that matchup. Or Shapi was a better defensive option to limit the Galaxy’s right midfielder, who was Erik Thommy.

Early Galaxy Pressure Tested Sporting Kansas City

The Galaxy created the first major opportunity of the match when Marco Reus rose to meet a cross from former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Thommy. His header sailed just over the crossbar, giving Sporting Kansas City an early warning of the pressure they would face.

Sporting Kansas City’s pressing remains a work in progress. At times in the first half the team pressed in a shape resembling a 4-4-2, with Joveljic and Garcia stepping forward together.

Even with that structure in place, opponents have continued to find ways to play through the press. In the 25th minute the Galaxy moved the ball quickly through midfield, creating a chance for Harbor Tarczynski-Miller. John Pulskamp made an important save before covering the rebound.

The Galaxy continued to look like the more dangerous attacking side throughout much of the first half.

Sloppy Possession Still Creates Problems

Despite the eventual victory, Sporting Kansas City again struggled with possession in several phases of the match. Turnovers in midfield and defense repeatedly allowed the Galaxy to launch quick attacks.

Jake Davis was involved in two of those moments during the first half. On both occasions he lost possession in dangerous areas, which led to shots from Joao Klauss.

During preseason, Justin Reynolds showed that he is Sporting Kansas City’s best natural right-back option. Davis is generally more effective when playing in midfield, where his passing and work rate can influence the game more consistently.

The club still need to add a reliable backup right-back before the transfer window closes. Reynolds relies heavily on his pace, and players with that style often face recurring muscle injuries during long seasons.

A Counter-attack Goal Before Halftime

As the first half approached stoppage-time, Sporting Kansas City suddenly produced their most dangerous attacking moment.

Bartlow cleared a Galaxy pass from inside the penalty area, launching a counter-attack. The ball eventually reached Shapi, who passed to Johnsen. The Norwegian quickly moved the ball to Garcia, who turned and delivered a long diagonal pass toward Joveljic on the left side.

With no immediate passing options, Joveljic drove directly at his defender before cutting inside the penalty area. His right-footed shot was not particularly powerful, but it slipped past Novak Micovic and found the back of the net.

After absorbing significant pressure throughout the half, Sporting Kansas City had taken a 1–0 lead in the second minute of stoppage-time. The goal felt like a sucker punch to the Galaxy and highlighted Joveljic’s finishing ability. Even when the chance appears small, he has the quality to convert it.

Joveljic is exceeding his xG currently, scoring three goals from an xG of 2.17. He finishes even the most low-value chances. The striker averages just 30 touches per game. How little have Sporting Kansas City’s attackers found the Serbian in the penalty area? Joveljic has just 13 total touches in the 18-yard box.

The Second Counter-attack That Sealed the Result

The second half began with more attacking pressure from the Galaxy. Several crosses and aerial opportunities created dangerous situations, but their finishing continued to let them down. Those missed chances ultimately allowed Sporting Kansas City to strike again.

Stephen Afrifa, who had replaced Harris, played a crucial role in the sequence that led to the second goal. The move began with Garcia winning the ball near the halfway line before quickly playing to Shapi.

Shapi found Joveljic, who delivered a well-weighted angled pass to Afrifa. The Canadian attacker beat his defender in a one-on-one situation before cutting the ball back toward the top of the box.

Joveljic cleverly dummied the pass, allowing Johnsen to arrive and strike first time. Suddenly, Sporting Kansas City held a 2–0 lead thanks to two textbook counter-attacks.

Pulskamp’s Saves Preserved the Win

Although the scoreline suggested control, the match remained tense late in the second half.

Pulskamp played a critical role in preserving Sporting Kansas City’s lead. FotMob credited him with four saves, but the numbers alone do not fully capture the importance of those stops.

One of his saves required a diving effort, while three came from shots inside the penalty area. Each of those moments prevented the Galaxy from leveling the score earlier in the match.

The Galaxy eventually pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute through Reus after a chaotic sequence in which Pulskamp made multiple saves.

Progress Without Complete Control

Evaluating whether Sporting Kansas City were the better team is complicated. The Galaxy controlled long stretches of possession and generated more shots.

If their finishing had been better, the outcome could easily have been different. The absence of Paintsil and Pec also have influenced the attacking threat the Galaxy were able to produce.

The victory gives the Wizards four points from four matches and leaves them just one point outside the Western Conference’s top nine. More importantly, the performance reinforces the sense that the team is moving in the right direction. For all of my worry about Wicky not staying in coaching jobs for long, his progress with this team has already pleasantly surprised me.

Both goals came from counter-attacks and the team spent periods on the defensive, but the organizational improvements are becoming visible.

Capita and Blorian will arrive soon, and further signings will strengthen the squad. Sporting Kansas City remain a work in progress, but the building blocks are clearly taking shape.

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