The Los Angeles Galaxy hit a new low point on Saturday, suffering a devastating 7-0 loss against the New York Red Bulls. This result solidifies their dreadful start to the season, marking the worst performance ever by a defending MLS Cup champion with no wins after 12 matches. The game was a rematch of the 2024 MLS Cup final, highlighting the significant decline in the Galaxy`s form since lifting the trophy. The seven-goal margin of victory tied the record for the largest difference in a rematch and was only the second time in the Red Bulls` history they had scored seven goals, the first being in 2016.
After 12 games this season, the Galaxy are currently at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Gregg Vanney`s team is facing immense difficulties, having conceded a league-high 28 goals while also scoring the second-fewest goals in MLS, with just eight to their name.
Some struggles were anticipated given the absence of star midfielder Riqui Puig at the beginning of the season due to an ACL injury. However, with attacking talents like Marco Reus, Gabriel Pec, and Joseph Paintsil in the squad, scoring goals was not expected to be such a major issue for the Galaxy. While changes after winning a championship are common in a salary-cap league like MLS and can sometimes weaken a team, the underlying statistics suggest a deeper problem. Their Expected Goals (xG) figure of 12.93 indicates the team isn`t just failing to convert chances; they are fundamentally struggling to create meaningful scoring opportunities.
To provide context for the Galaxy`s historic slump, let`s examine some of the worst starts by defending champions in other major sports leagues in the United States:
NFL: Los Angeles Rams (2022-23)
Following their Super Bowl victory, the Los Angeles Rams had a dismal start to their 2022 season, opening with a 3-6 record. After winning two of their initial three games, they entered a sharp decline, ultimately securing only five wins for the season and failing to reach the playoffs, finishing third in the NFC West. Injuries played a significant role, notably quarterback Matthew Stafford being limited to just nine games. While not as dire as the Galaxy`s current predicament, this start was tied for the worst by a reigning NFL champion.
MLB: Florida Marlins (1998)
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the worst start recorded by a defending champion belongs to the Florida Marlins (now the Miami Marlins) in 1998. After winning the World Series in 1997, the team underwent major changes, including trading key player Moises Alou. This restructuring led to a terrible 1-9 start to the 1998 season, which they finished with a bleak 54-108 record.
