![September 10, 2023; Carson, California, USA; St. Louis CITY SC forward Samuel Adeniran (16) controls the ball under pressure from Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo (20) in the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park.](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/c64947e8ad85579e79a1367685615e26.jpg)
Substitute Billy Sharp leveled the match in the 82nd minute to help LA Galaxy come from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to 10-man St. Louis City on Sunday.
Riqui Puig also scored from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute for his sixth goal for LA (7-10-9, 30 points), which has lost just once in its last 12 MLS matches to get back into the playoffs. rack.
Puig also drew Samuel Adeniran for his second yellow card offense in the 60th minute, a moment that turned the final half hour decisively in the Galaxy’s favour.
But their inability to find a third goal after Sharp’s equalizer leaves the Galaxy second to last in the Western Conference, albeit just four points below the play-off line.
Adeniran had opened the scoring for the visitors in the fourth minute with his seventh goal of the season.
Joao Klauss added his sixth – and his first since March 25 after missing four months with a quad injury – to help St. Louis (15-10-3, 48 points) extend its lead to seven points ahead of Seattle on top the West.
St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Burki made six saves in a major performance despite conceding twice.
Adeniran received his second warning in the space of eight minutes for a late challenge on Puig, after receiving his first for the handball that led to Puig’s penalty.
Puig narrowly missed the left post just a few minutes after Adeniran’s departure, but not many chances followed until Sharp’s equalizer.
Uri Rosell met Diego Fagundez’s first free-kick from the right at the back post and headed it back across goal, where Sharp outwitted Tim Parker to direct a first-time finish from close range beyond Burki.
Adeniran put the visitors ahead after just four minutes with a quick finish past Jonathan Bond after Eduard Lowen’s through ball set up a Jared Stroud cross.
Klauss doubled that lead in the 26th minute after Aziel Jackson’s exceptional run from his own half sent a low finish through Bond’s legs.
— Field-level media