Ghanaian winger Joseph Paintsil delivered the decisive moment as LA Galaxy secured a slender 1-0 victory over San Jose Earthquakes in a tightly fought Major League Soccer encounter early Thursday.
Paintsil was handed a starting berth and remained on the pitch for 83 minutes, playing a central role as the Galaxy navigated a cagey Week 20 contest to claim maximum points.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock before the interval, with the two teams trading chances but lacking the cutting edge required to turn their openings into goals.
The stalemate finally ended in the 79th minute when Paintsil stepped up with a moment of individual quality to put LA Galaxy in front.
His timely finish proved enough to settle the contest, giving the hosts a crucial advantage with the match entering its final stages.
Harbor ➡️ JP 🌟 pic.twitter.com/47bROuRpgh
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 20, 2026
San Jose Earthquakes responded by throwing more bodies forward in pursuit of an equaliser, but Galaxy remained composed under pressure and successfully saw out the closing minutes without surrendering their lead.
The result represents another positive contribution from Paintsil, who continues to make his presence felt in the Galaxy attack.
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The 28-year-old Ghana international has now featured 17 times in MLS this season, registering five goals and two assists.
