Recap, Match Day #12: LA Galaxy suffer a big shutout near the Big Apple | OneFootball

Yikes! Going into Saturday evening's rematch of the 2024 MLS Cup Finals, the Los Angeles Galaxy had given up seven goals in their previous four games. Unfortunately, the defending champions showed why they are on the bottom of the MLS Western Conference standings (0-3-9).

After the 7-0 defeat, the LA Galaxy have now set the league record for longest streak of not winning a game to start a season. To make matters worse, the six-time MLS Cup winners are more than likely to miss the playoffs for the sixth season in the past nine years.

What caused the thorns for the LA Galaxy in the Garden State?

For starters, the Los Angeles Galaxy were without two of their stars, Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil. Both left last week's game against Sporting Kansas City late in the second half with separate injuries.

The pair of newcomers from last year's MLS championship roster missed Saturday's game. That forced LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney to get crafty with the lineup and limited availability on his roster.

1. A rare 3-5-2 formation hindered the offensive flow for the LA Galaxy

John Nelson, Maya Yoshida, and Carlos Garces were positioned on the backline defensively in front of their goalkeeper John McCarthy. The former LAFC keeper tied his personal-worst of four goals allowed two games ago against the Portland Timbers.

The New Red Bulls got it going early on offense. Of their 19 shot attempts, 11 were on target. Thus, the 7-0 loss on Saturday, the Galaxy goalie set a new personal-worst of seven goals allowed.

2. At least a half dozen reasons why LA lost this one

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored almost immediately for the 2024 MLS Eastern Conference champions. He found the back of the net in the 7th minute. Less than ten minutes later, the Red Bulls' Emil Forsberg made it a 2-0 deficit against the LA Galaxy.

Choupo-Moting added a second score in the first half of play. That put the Galaxy down 3-0 after the first half.

Five minutes after halftime, Forsberg scored his second goal, as well. The Red Bulls' Cameron Harper and Dennis Gjengaar scored twenty minutes later in the same period.

The Los Angeles Galaxy had no answers on offense or defense in this one. To add salt on an already open wound, Miki Yamane had an own goal during stoppage time.

With such a short turnaround before their next game, the LA Galaxy will have to figure it out on Wednesday (May 14th), when they travel to Philadelphia to play another MLS Eastern Conference playoff hopeful, the Philadelphia Union (7-2-3).