The LA Galaxy (1-4-12) defeated Real Salt Lake (4-3-10) 2-0 Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park to end a 16-game unbeaten streak that tied the record for worst start in MLS history.

That’s right, they did it. The streak… is over.

What has been a season akin to the 2023 season in terms of turmoil and frustration, (though for different reasons) may have some light at the end of it’s tunnel.

Taking the positives from the game against RSL: while possession according to FOTMOB was 50% in favor of the Galaxy, the shots that mattered came off of strikes from G’s midfielder Lucas Sanabria (his first in LA Galaxy colors) and DP winger Joseph Paintsil.

Sanabria made a run next to striker Matheus Nascimento, who hit the striding midfielder for a tap in at the 17th minute. DP winger Gabriel Pec lofted a through ball up to Paintsil, who diced his defender and sent a bullet into the top right corner at the 55th minute.

This was also a confidence booster for a weak Galaxy backline and maybe a promotion to the starting spot post international break for goalie Novak Micovic.

Micovic saw 4 shots on target and made an imperative save at the 2nd minute, coming out of his own box to make a sliding save on RSL forward Zavier Gozo.

Galaxy defender and captain Maya Yoshida was happy with the win in the post match presser.

“This is just one win, but for me and us [the team] it is a huge win,” Yoshida said. “Important thing is we have to continue like that. That have to be our standard, that have to be our minimum.”

So where do the Galaxy go from here?

MLS is currently on an international break, with the Galaxy in particular not playing until Saturday, June 14 away at St. Louis City SC.

Until then, the club hopes to have midfielder and German National Team legend Marco Reus healthy and crossed fingers that Sanabria’s injury that had him pulled at halftime against RSL was just a minor flare up.

Besides health, the aforementioned defensive improvements could see a more consistent look with defender Emiro Garces coming off the bench and longtime MLS veteran and two-time MLS Cup champion John McCarthy leaning into the backup goalkeeper role.

It could also cement Nascimento’s spot as a shifty striker who can move and pass the ball as much as he can score with it at his feet.

Before someone asks if playoffs are on the table or refer to the 2016 Seattle Sounders who made a “miracle run” to the playoffs and winning MLS Cup that season, let’s remember the Galaxy just won their first game in 17 matches and that the league is much different now.

The Galaxy’s next seven matches include: the previously mentioned return to league play on June 14 away at St. Louis SC, away at the Colorado Rapids on June 21, away at the San Jose Earthquakes on June 28, at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps on July 4, at home against D.C. United on July 12, at home against Austin on July 16 and at LAFC for El Trafico on July 19.

If the Galaxy can find points in all of those matches, maybe there’s a miracle on the table, but that’s a rough stretch of games against some of the best teams in the league and will reveal if the first 16 games truly were an outlier.

The Galaxy’s focus should be on developing players like Nascimento, Sanabria, midfielder Elijah Wynder, midfielder Harbor Miller, defender Julian Aude, Garces, etc. Giving them the minutes needed to contribute to not only the rest of this season, but to next year’s campaign.

Unless the Galaxy can put together a longer winning streak than they currently have in the Greg Vanney era (five games), and pray that a few Western Conference teams go on some very cold streaks, this season may be one to take the little victories from.