3️⃣ things we learned from the MLS Cup conference finals | OneFootball

The MLS Cup conference finals did not disappoint. While we saw just two goals from open play, there was drama galore in the 180 minutes of action Saturday evening.

Let's pick through some of the main takeaways from the proceedings in Orlando and Los Angeles.

Yet again, Seattle felt 'one piece away' from glory

Nov 30, 2024; Carson, California, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Georgi Minoungou (93) reacts after the match against the LA Galaxy in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference Final match at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Seattle Sounders are an enigma. Despite never really making their mark in the transfer market, they continually push deep into any competition they enter. And once they are there, they are as tough to knock out as anybody.

That success is due in large part to head coach Brian Schmetzer and the culture he has built in the emerald city, but culture only takes you so far when the teams around you spend big in the transfer market.

While they did splash some cash on Argentine youngster Pedro de la Vega, the Cascadia club remain a relatively quiet participant in the burgeoning arms race in MLS.

Against the LA Galaxy Saturday evening, the aforementioned disciplined culture kept the Sounders within an arm's length of the highflying SoCal club, but the sprinkle of stardust was clearly missing when it mattered.

But if the Seattle hierarchy do finally decide to loosen the purse strings, it could spell bad news for their Western Conference foes.

The Red Bulls' run is what makes MLS great

Nov 30, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Andres Reyes (4) celebrates after winning in the 2024 MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

Very few people would have picked the New York Red Bulls to make a run for their first MLS Cup berth since 2008, especially after a fairly tumultuous regular season.

Back in September, the Red Bulls suffered a 5-1 home defeat to crosstown rivals NYCFC, prompting the home supporters to raise a banner that read "NOT GOOD ENOUGH".

Fast forward a couple of months, that very same Red Bulls team knocked off NYCFC, and reigning champions Columbus Crew, en route to a first ever Eastern Conference title.

Coming into the playoffs as the number seven seed in Eastern Conference (seventh ranked team), the Harrison club became the lowest seeded team to ever make MLS Cup.

This is what MLS dreams are made of.

The Galaxy proved they can win the close ones too

Nov 30, 2024; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (9) celebrates with midfielder Riqui Puig (10) after scoring a goal against Seattle Sounders FC in the second half in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference Final match at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Greg Vanney's LA Galaxy are simply a juggernaut. The Carson club have had it all their own way through most of the playoffs up to this point, scoring four or more goals in three straight games before running into the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final.

But against Brian Schmetzer's well-disciplined Sounders Saturday evening, the Galaxy showed that they don't need to run up the score to win matches.

It was as tight as a conference final can come as the match seemed destined to head to extra-time and possibly penalties, but the Galaxy's stars shone through when it truly mattered.

Nil-nil in the dying minutes had a Sounders snatch and grab written all over it, but the Galaxy put out a major statement heading into MLS Cup this upcoming weekend — they'll win in any manner they need to.

© Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images