LA Galaxy midfielder Samuel Grandsir, center, celebrates with forward Javier Hernández, left, during the first half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier Hernández runs down the sideline after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Samuel Grandsir (11), center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond kicks the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Los Angeles Galaxy defender Séga Coulibaly (4) heads the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Easton Ongaro (43) during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernández, back left, makes a penalty kick for a goal past Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Cody Cropper during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Raposo, right, fights off Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Marco Delgado, left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Víctor Vázquez, center top, jumps after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy midfielder Samuel Grandsir, second from left in back, celebrates with midfielder Gastón Brugman, left, after Grandsir scored a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld, right, kicks the ball past Los Angeles Galaxy defender Julian Araujo, center, and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, left, for a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez, left, looks to pass the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez, center, vies for the ball against Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert, left, and midfielder Andrés Cubas, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon, left, moves the ball past LA Galaxy forward Douglas Costa during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy forward Kévin Cabral kicks the ball during the second half of the team’s MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez, left, raises his hands after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Javain Brown, right, heads the ball against LA Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy forward Raheem Edwards, right, kicks the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps forward David Egbo during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic, right, hops over Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, back, blocks a shot by the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 5-2. (AP Photo/Raul Romero Jr.)
CARSON — Riqui Puig made his debut inside of Dignity Health Sports Park, but as a spectator and in a suit as he was introduced to the crowd.
His teammates put on impressive first-half performance en route to a comfortable 5-2 win Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday in front of 21.465.
“The group is very confident in what they’re doing and what they have to do,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said.
Samuel Grandsir scored a pair of goals, Victor Vazquez chimed in a 20-yard blast and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez converted a penalty kick all inside of the first 40 minutes of the half for a dominating 4-0 lead.
Julian Araujo added two assists. For Vazquez, it was his first goal with his son Leo in town from Barcelona.
Vanney called Grandsir’s performance “efficient.”
“Solid, mature, controlled,” Vanney said of the first half. “We’ve been through a tough stretch, now we’re getting guys healthy, we get Riqui in, now we have to get back to preparation. We have to do it one at a time for 10 more games.
“We did a lot of things that we’ve done well in spurts during the season, but we did them well over a longer stretch, which is the key.”
Vancouver cut the lead in half in the second half, but Efrain Alvarez put the finishing touches on the game and win with a tap in on a pass from Dejan Joveljic in the 89th minute.
That was the first time since 2016 that the Galaxy (10-11-3, 33 points) scored four goals in the first half. The last time it was accomplished was April 23 in a 5-2 win over Real Salt Lake.
The win is as important as any for the Galaxy, especially at this moment of the season. Entering the game, the Galaxy had slipped to 10th in a jam-packed playoff chase in the Western Conference.
With the win, they’ve moved up to the sixth. At the start of the weekend, just six points separated third place from 11th place. The top seven teams in each conference will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Four goals is the Galaxy’s season-high, having hit that mark against Austin FC May 29 in a 4-1 win.
The Galaxy played the final 10 minutes of regulation with a man advantage after Cristian Dajome was sent off with his second yellow card following a reckless challenge against Araujo.
As for Puig, he’s scheduled to have his Visa appointment Monday, which would then pave his way to make his on-field debut Friday against the Seattle Sounders.
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