With Joseph Paintsil sidelined with a hamstring injury, a lot of attention and eyes will be on the Galaxy’s other newest Designated Player.
Gabriel Pec, 23, turned in a strong performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo with a goal and an assist. In his 14 games this season, Pec has scored four goals – all at home – and added three assists.
“Yes, all of my goals have been at home,” he said Saturday through an interpreter. “I know that. I feel very good in front of the fans playing over here. My next goal is to score away as well and I hope I can do that as soon as possible.”
Pec joined the Galaxy (6-2-7, 25 points) from Vasco Da Gama in Brazil for a reported $10 million transfer fee. According to last month’s salary guide, released by the MLS Players Association, Pec is the Galaxy’s third-highest salaried player with a base of $1,680,000.
“He was dynamic and he was aggressive and whether it was in transition or times when we were getting him on the run, (you see) some of his power and speed and more of his qualities come out,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said after Saturday’s victory. “I think some of that is us getting him involved and some of that is him not just being kind of passive in a way and looking for the ball at his feet and trying to play one-on-one all the time but to play aggressive. And for us, to play him moving into some faster actions, whether that’s in the space he goes or whether that’s him getting it and he’s already on the move.
“I feel like when he does that, you see a lot more of what he can bring to the occasion. He did it on the right-hand side in the first half, and he did it on the left-hand side in the second half. So he’s capable of causing problems on either side and tonight he showed that.”
Pec’s integration was a bit slow. He joined the club late in the preseason training camp and came off the bench for the first three games, eventually earning his first start on the road against Sporting Kansas City (March 23).
Entering Wednesday’s game against FC Dallas, Pec has had an assist or goal in three of the past four games
“I’m getting more comfortable in the environment I’m in right now,” Pec said. “I’m developing game by game as you can see. The fans have been welcoming since day one, and I feel very pleased with that.”
FC Dallas is in 12th place (3-6-4, 13 points) in the Western Conference. The Galaxy is still unbeaten at home (3-0-3) following Saturday’s win.
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“The win settles the group in going into Wednesday,” Vanney said. “And going into the week because it’s another busy week.”
Following Wednesday, the Galaxy will travel to Chicago on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game against the Fire. After Saturday, the Galaxy will be off due to the international window, returning June 15.
FC DALLAS at GALAXY
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park
How to watch: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)