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Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Jovezic scored in the first half and the Los Angeles Galaxy won their sixth MLS Cup in history with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
After scoring twice in the first 13 minutes of the finals with a goal from their star forward, the Galaxy fought through a scoreless second half to protect their lead and win the league’s biggest trophy for the first time since 2014.
MLS’ most successful franchise struggled for much of the next decade, finishing 26th out of the 29-team league last year. However, the Galaxy turned everything around this season with a high-scoring new lineup, finishing second in the Western Conference and then clinching a new crown by winning back-to-back playoffs with a whopping 18 goals in five games. .
CARSON, CA – DECEMBER 7: Los Angeles Galaxy players celebrate scoring their team’s first goal during the 2024 MLS Cup Finals at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 7, 2024 in Carson, California. Joseph Paintsil #28. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Sean Niels scored for seventh-seeded Red Bulls, who moved one win away from winning their first Cup after an improbable playoff run. With the league’s youngest roster, New York fell just short of the lowest-seeded team winning the MLS playoff tournament under first-year German coach Sandro Schwarz.
Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves as the Galaxy won their second MLS title in three seasons. He was the MVP of the 2022 MLS Cup Finals for the Galaxy’s crosstown rival Los Angeles FC.
The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, Barcelona’s playmaker midfielder who has been a great attacking force all season, tore ligaments in his knee during last week’s Western Conference finals.
Puig wore a suit to watch the game, but his teammates didn’t forget about him. After his substitute, Gaston Brugman, made a great pass to give Los Angeles the lead, Paintsil held up Puig’s jersey to the fans in celebration.
Paintsil ran into a sublime pass from Brugman and smashed in his 14th MLS goal, including his fourth in the playoffs, in the Ghanaian forward’s outstanding first season, putting the Galaxy ahead in the ninth minute.
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Dejan Jovezic celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of the MLS Cup Championship Soccer game against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Just four minutes later, Yovezic sprinted past four New York defenders to bring home his 21st goal in a standout year for the Galaxy striker.
New York got on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when Niels volleyed home the ball from a corner kick inside Los Angeles’ penalty area. The Galaxy’s always shaky defense allowed them a few more chances before heading into halftime with a slim lead.
The second half was lively but scoreless. Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg fired a shot wide of the post in the 72nd minute, and Gabriel Peck and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus almost converted chances seconds later.
In the third minute of extra time, the ball was loose again in the Galaxy penalty area, but two Red Bulls were unable to score. The Galaxy bench rushed onto the field and celebrated the victory early in the 7th minute of stoppage time, but were forced back for an additional 30 seconds to play.
The Galaxy finished the season 17-0-3 in a suburban stadium whose name changes frequently. The sold-out crowd of 26,812 for the final included a dedicated cheering section of Red Bulls supporters traveling to see the New Jersey-based club advance in MLS’s biggest league. stage.
Galaxy’s Greg Vanney became the fourth manager to win MLS titles with two clubs. The former Galaxy player also won in Toronto in 2017.
Renowned for employing world-class stars, from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, the club has this season welcomed young, lesser-known players from around the world. We gathered talent and rebuilt it.
The Galaxy signed Peck from Brazil and Ghanaian Paintsil from Belgium, and the duo, combined with incumbent Serbian striker Jovegic, formed a formidable attack that outperformed most MLS opponents.
But the Galaxy also relied heavily on Puig, the Catalan catalyst and one of the best players in MLS. Puig remained in last week’s game after injuring his knee and made the decisive pass to Jovezic, resulting in the game’s only goal.
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