When highly regarded Masia product Riqui Puig recently left Barcelona for the LA Galaxy in search of a leading role, the preposterous idea of the 23-year-old Spaniard elevating Javier Hernández's game to the point where Tata Martino had to include him in Mexico's World Cup squad might've crossed our minds.
It's a preposterous idea because (1) there's no way Martino turns to the 34-year-old Chicharito at this point and (2) Puig's success in MLS isn't guaranteed — the featherweight really didn't gather many minutes over his last two years at Barça, and he's now facing a wildly different challenge in both his career and personal life.
However, after watching the first 15 minutes of Puig's first start for the Galaxy, it's clear he's going to get Chicharito on that plane.
With the Galaxy already leading New England 1-0 after Chicharito provided an assist for Daniel Aguirre, Puig turned provider with a through ball that dissected four Revolution defenders before finding Mexico's all-time leading scorer in the channel.
The ball from @RiquiPuig
The finish from @CH14_CHICHAGOOOAAAAAAAAAL pic.twitter.com/S64oIXRf1O
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 29, 2022
New England pulled one back in the 82nd through 2021 MVP Carles Gil, but the Galaxy held on for the 2-1 win.
CAPIIIIII#NEvLA 1-2 pic.twitter.com/c99AO5QeAB
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) August 29, 2022
It's a massive three points for the Galaxy that keeps them in control of their playoff destiny in the Western Conference. For the Revs, it's a bad home loss that keeps them beneath the Eastern Conference playoff line with just seven games to play.
