The most electric comeback in MLS history, from the darkest season to the brightest. LA Galaxy are clinched and leading with 29 points to make playoffs this year.
Saturday’s match between the LA Galaxy and LAFC marked the 24th edition across all competitions of El Tráfico, with the Galaxy now leading the all-time series 10-9-5 (52 GF, 51 GA). Against LAFC, the LA Galaxy hold an 8-7-5 (42 GF, 42 GA) record in league play, a 0-2-0 (5 GF, 8 GA) record in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and a 2-0-0 (5 GF, 1 GA) record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In 12 all-time home matches played across all competitions against LAFC, the Galaxy holds a record of 8-2-2 (28 GF, 18 GA). In three meetings between the two teams during the 2024 MLS Regular Season, the Galaxy had a 1-2-0 record (6 GF, 6 GA). In 24 all-time meetings across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and LAFC, El Tráfico averages 4.3 goals per match.
Down 2-0 at halftime, with LAFC scoring first to score in the 4th minute: Denis Bouanga delivered a cross across the face of the goal that was deflected by a Galaxy defender and was headed in from close range by Mateusz Bogusz. Then, minutes later, LAFC scored again in the 15th minute: Denis Bouanga dribbled down the left side of the penalty area and struck his shot in from a tight angle past LA Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy. The LA Galaxy went into halftime one but came out to clinch a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, turning the game 4-2 in the second half.
He was coming back from behind to win over LAFC before a sellout crowd of 25,174 fans at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night. Dejan Joveljić recorded a brace in the 53rd minute: Dejan Joveljić received a pass inside the penalty area, cut inside on his right foot, and rifled his shot into the top left corner of the goal. Edwin Cerrillo notched his first career MLS goal 2 minutes later, in the 55th minute, Riqui Puig slid a pass towards the top of the box to Edwin Cerrillo, who took a touch and drilled his shot into the top left corner to score his first career MLS goal—tying the match 2-2 and leaving LAFC dumbfounded on the pitch.
Your players that night held their ground as they pushed out LAFC’ 's Bouanga. “I live for these moments as a player my celebration was a social decision that’s how it came to be, I didn’t know what to do; I just knew I needed to stay more central, and I always just try to reciprocate what I see in the fans. It felt nice, and I didn’t know what to do", Said Edwin Cerrillo after scoring his first goal.
Before the match, Coach Vanney said, “ We have to win, if we lose, we won’t win the Western Conference.” Why, you might ask? This gives LA the upper hand and the momentum, the electric comeback allows LA Galaxy that extra dopamine to focus on improving the minor mistakes Maya Yoshida also mentioned. In case they do meet up with LAFC again.
It took ten minutes for LA Galaxy to turn things around, the opportunist Joveljic came in the second half and delivered. In the 67th minute, Marco Reus streaked down the right side of the penalty area. He cut the ball back towards the top of the penalty area to Riqui Puig, who played a first-time pass inside the six-yard box that was flicked in, allowing them to be in the lead 3-2 and Riqui Puig tallied a goal, adding the cherry on top in the victory against LAFC. In the 85 minutes, he received a no-look pass from Marco Reus at the top of the 18-yard box, took a touch, and curled his shot around Kei Kamara and into the side netting.
Although LA Galaxy won and is now in first place with 29 points, the team is not satisfied, “ I think we did well today, but we need to continue to work on the little mistakes because the first half is not how we want to show up and play for the remainder of the matches, added Captain Maya Yoshida. “ if we want to win it all we have to be even better defensively because to the MLS defense win games” also mentioned Riqui Puig.
With the win, the LA Galaxy became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a berth in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. It marks the 21st time in 29 MLS seasons that the Galaxy have qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs and the first time since the 2022 campaign.
Comments