LA Galaxy showed why they're the remaining favorite to win MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi, cruising to a 6-2 rout of Minnesota United FC in their Western Conference Semifinal Sunday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.
LA will host Seattle Sounders FC next Saturday in the Western Conference Final (10 pm ET | MLS Season Pass), chasing a record sixth MLS Cup title and their first since 2014. Whoever wins will host the winner of Saturday's Eastern Conference Final between Orlando City SC and New York Red Bulls (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass) in the Dec. 7 championship.
Against Minnesota, Gabriel Pec, Dejan Joveljić and Joseph Paintsil all scored twice, while Riqui Puig contributed two assists. Pec scored after 30 seconds (fastest goal in LA playoff history), won a penalty kick and drew an 82nd-minute red card on Minnesota center back Jefferson Díaz.
Combined with their Round One series sweep of the Colorado Rapids, LA have scored a league-record 15 goals in three MLS Cup Playoffs matches this year. The Galaxy's six goals against Minnesota tie the MLS Cup Playoffs single-game record by a team.
The Loons had bright spots, including Kelvin Yeboah scoring a first-half brace and Dayne St. Clair denying Pec's second-half penalty kick. However, LA's high-powered attack proved overwhelming.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: The Galaxy are scoring for fun nowadays and are in pole position to host MLS Cup. All that stands in their way is Seattle's league-best defense. What a turnaround for head coach Greg Vanney's group, which finished 13th in the Western Conference last season before signing Pec, Paintsil and Marco Reus (among others). Minnesota end their up-and-down debut campaign under head coach Eric Ramsay, holding plenty of positive takeaways.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Pec said "I'll just do it myself." The results were incredible.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Pec, the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year, was in the zone. The Brazilian winger now has 3g/2a this postseason.
Next Up
- LA: Nov. 30 vs. Seattle Sounders FC | 10 pm ET (MLS Season Pass) | Western Conference Final
- MIN: End of season
