MLS: Ghana’s Joseph Paintsil fires first-half hat-trick as LA Galaxy thrash Sporting Kansas City 4-1

Ghana forward Joseph Paintsil delivered a masterclass performance for LA Galaxy on Saturday night, scoring a stunning hat-trick to inspire his side to a 4-1 triumph over Sporting Kansas City in Week 32 of the MLS season.

Playing at the Dignity Health Sports Park, Paintsil wasted no time in making his mark. He opened the scoring just four minutes into the game, setting the tone for a dominant display. The in-form winger struck again in the 24th minute, capping off a flowing attacking move to double the Galaxy’s advantage.

Kansas City briefly threatened a comeback when Dejan Joveljic pulled one back in the 27th minute, but Paintsil restored the cushion almost immediately. The Black Stars attacker completed his hat-trick in the 43rd minute, sealing a sensational first-half display that left the visitors reeling.

After the break, LA Galaxy continued to press forward, with Diego Fagundez adding a fourth in the 60th minute following another attacking move that involved Paintsil.

The 27-year-old’s treble etched his name into the club’s history books, becoming only the third player in LA Galaxy’s history to score a first-half hat-trick, after Robbie Keane (2013) and Alejandro Moreno (2004).