Hirving “Chucky” Lozano’s Galaxy debut came under odd circumstances last weekend.
Lozano entered Saturday’s game against the Houston Dynamo with the Galaxy down to 10 men and trailing by a goal.
Playing in his first MLS game since Nov. 29, 2025, Lozano entered in the 65th minute and provided a fighting spirit that the Galaxy definitely lacked on the night and so far this season.
“I think he came in with a competitiveness,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said after Saturday’s game. “He was battling, he was getting in on them. I don’t feel like all of those were fouls. He was just competing.”
Game data, according to soccer app and website FotMob, had Lozano recording 14 touches, drawing four fouls and committing four while also picking up a yellow card.
“I felt like he was looking for ways to take responsibility in certain plays to try to make things happen,” Vanney said. “I felt like he came in to try to add to the game and again, really tough conditions to play your first game in a lot of months. To come in and the temperature and the humidity and all that, but I felt like he came in to try to make an impact.
“For us, it’s really positive that he was able to get 30-plus minutes in for today. That’s going to help him as we build him through the course of the week and hopefully as we get through this week, he’ll be in a really good position to continue to move forward as we start to get guys in and healthy.”
In all likelihood, Lozano will see an increase in minutes when the Galaxy host the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night. Lozano hasn’t played more than one half of any match since an Oct. 14, 2025 exhibition against Mexico, when he went 60 minutes.
“He’s going to bring us quality in the final action,” Vanney said of Lozano’s traits. “I think we’ve gotten to a number of good spots, especially the last several games, and we’re just inefficient in and around the box. You hope and believe that his quality can make you a more efficient team … decisions in the final action, quality in the final action. His recognition of space and when to run, his connection with others, which is something we’re working on.”
Defender Jakob Glesnes added that Lozano’s quality has shown in the short time he’s been with the team.
“He’s just been here for a week and a half so far, but what he is showing is that he has something extra, if I can say it in that way,” Glesnes said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing him more on the field and to see what he can contribute. What he can show for the team. I think that can be a key piece for the rest of the season for us.”
MIKI YAMANE RETURNS TO JAPAN
The Galaxy announced another departure on Sunday with defender Miki Yamane, who joined the club ahead of the 2024 season, returned to Japan, joining the Urawa Red Diamonds.
Yamane was in the final year of his contract. He made 99 appearances in his time with the Galaxy, including 16 games this season.
ROAD TRIP TO MONTREAL
After Wednesday’s game, the Galaxy will depart Thursday for Canada ahead of Saturday’s game against CF Montreal. It will be the Galaxy’s first trip to Montreal since 2018, when a 75th-minute goal from Ola Kamara led the way to a 1-0 win. The Galaxy played that second half a man down after Zlatan Ibrahimovic picked up a red card in the 41st minute.
The Galaxy have won their last four meetings with Montreal.
EARTHQUAKES at GALAXY
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park
How to watch: FS1, Apple TV