Know thy enemy and know thyself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated, according to ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu. Wise advice and a good way to spend spare time while you wait for the next match at work. In our abundant lead-up time, we’ve picked out a few of the brightest stars the Galaxy have to offer ahead of MNUFC’s Conference Semifinal match against LA, and we turned all our research into a couple of handy scouting reports. So, without further ado, let’s get to know the next name on the list:
SCOUTING: Gabriel Pec (aka Gariel Fortes Chaves)
- Age: 23 years old
- Birthplace: Petrópolis, Brazil
- Height: 5’9”
- Position: Winger / Attacking Mid
- Preferred Foot: Left
Strengths
- Technically-sound on the ball
- His pace makes him a vertical threat
- Great positioning, and makes smart runs off-the-ball
Weaknesses
- Style of play makes him more prone to turnovers
- Heavily dependent on strong foot
Key Stats:
- 16 Goals - Tied for 5th Most Goals In MLS (2024)
- Leading scorer for LA in 2024
Career Accolades
- MLS Newcomer of the Year (2024)
- MLS All-Star selection - 2024
Summary
Following a breakout season for the winger in 2023 with top-flight Brazilian side Vasco da Gama, Pec joined LA Galaxy in January 2024 after signing a DP contract with the club that runs through 2028. The Brazilian international made an immediate impact for his new club, as the young star would help LA form a revamped attack alongside fellow winter DP signing Joseph Paintsil, Riqui Puig, and Dejan Joveljić. LA’s attacking third would propel the club back into the playoffs after falling short of the postseason in 2023. This season, Pec and his attacking cohorts would finish the season with a Western Conference-leading 69 goals on the year.
Pec would also be recognized for his individual play in his debut season for the Galaxy, with the winger being selected to the 2024 MLS All-Star team. The Brazilian’s impact on LA’s much improved attack was evident throughout the season, with Pec ending the regular season as the club’s leading scorer in 2024. More recently, Major League Soccer awarded Pec as the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year, beating out international star and MLS newbie Luiz Suárez of Inter Miami. Pec is just the second member of the LA Galaxy to earn the award, joining international enigma Zlatan Ibrahimović, who earned the award in his MLS debut season in 2018.
To say that Pec will be a point of focus for the Loons in the Western Conference semifinal would be an understatement. Particularly with playmaker and passing savant Riqui Puig in the middle, Loons defenders will have to cut off any avenues in the goal box to prevent Pec from finding enough space to score. His endurance and pace make him somebody that will challenge MNUFC for a full 90 minutes. But, because of the style in which he plays, Pec can be prone to mistakes when dribbling in possession. Causing those missteps will be crucial for the Loons if they hope to get the victory over this revamped version of the Galaxy.
But don't just take my word for it—check out some of Pec's best moments this season to get a taste of what the Loons are coming up against:
The Tape:
