FanSided MLS
·26 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsFanSided MLS
·26 November 2024
It's been a decade since the team's last trip to a Conference Final but it's finally happened. The last time the Los Angeles Galaxy made this deep of a playoff run, was in 2014, their last MLS Cup title, too.
Then, Bruce Arena coached the likes of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane as they could be seen on the field back then. The LA Galaxy had won their first title in 2002 after making it to a Conference Final five times previous. The only season they failed to make it that far was in 1997 when they lost in the Quarterfinals.
On Sunday, the 6-2 thrashing they delivered Minnesota United FC launched the Galaxy back to playoff prosperity in their 80th all-time postseason game. Next up, the Los Angeles Galaxy will host the Seattle Sounders.
Even while being absent from this stage of the playoff bracket for a decade, the five-time MLS Champions have been to a record 14 games at the Conference Finals stage. Their record in those games are 9-4 in such contests.
What we are seeing from the LA Galaxy is beyond unprecedented. It's never been seen before.
In the opening round of the playoffs against the Colorado Rapids, the Los Angeles Galaxy clobbered their guest 5-0. The Rapids only got one shot attempt off the entire game.
Forward Dejan Joveljic set the tone in that game with his first of two goals. At the 32nd minute, he gave the LA Galaxy the lead for good, 1-0. He would add another midway through the second half.
Fellow Galaxy veteran Riqui Puig also added a pair of goals in Game 1. He scored at the 54th and 87th minute marks. Defender John Nelson also added his first career MLS goal at the 52nd minute.
In the close out Game in Colorado, the Galaxy continued to find the back of the net. They won 4-1. The other two members of the Killer P's (Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec) scored in the first half. This gave the Galaxy a 2-1 lead at half and they never looked back.
Just like in Game 1, Puig added two to the scoreboard for the LA Galaxy. Both of his goals were in stoppage time of the second half. That gave the Western Conference juggernauts three stoppage time goals in the series.
"I love that the group is locked in and everyone and is fulfilling their responsibilities on the field at a high level and they are connected to each other, and when you do that, I think we have a lot of talent and a good group."- Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy Head Coach
Against Minnesota United, the Los Angeles Galaxy continued to place the soccer ball past the opposing team's goal with a good deal of success. Six more goals were scored by the Joveljic and company.
Gabriel Pec had his second goal of the postseason in the first minute of the game on Sunday. He would add another early in the second half. Joveljic and Paintsil both scored twice as well.
All three players scored in each half. This gave the Los Angeles Galaxy the 6-2 victory to advance to the MLS Western Conference stage where they will meet a familiar foe, the Seattle Sounders.
The LA Galaxy have now scored 15 postseason goals in 2024. To put this in perspective, the rest of the Western Conference has scored a total of 17 goals between the best-of-three opening round games and both semifinal contests.
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