LA Galaxy Reach MLS Cup, but at Great Cost
Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Galaxy overcame a stubborn Seattle Sounders team 1-0 in the MLS Western Conference Final on Saturday, November 30, and advanced to their tenth MLS Cup Final to be played a decade to the day after their last appearance.
Although LA had waltzed through the opening rounds by scoring 15 goals, this game more closely resembled what the postseason usually looks like.
As expected of a playoff final, the match was a physical, intense battle until the Galaxy was able to capitalize on the Sounder’s lone defensive mistake deep into the second half.
“I think it was wonderful that we had three games like we did before, but this is typically a little bit more what the playoffs would look like in general,” LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney said in his post-match press conference. “And so the question was, can you win a 1-0 game if you need to in the playoffs? And we certainly did.”
They will host the league’s showpiece event after Dejan Joveljić’s 85th-minute goal was enough for LA to become MLS Western Conference Champions. The Galaxy will now have a chance to play for their sixth star next weekend at home against the New York Red Bulls.
It was a statement moment for LA and Vanney, who completed a remarkable turnaround of the Galaxy’s fortunes in just one season.
LA Galaxy Post Match
Riqui Puig Pays the Cost
LA paid a heavy price for the win, however.
Star Midfielder Riqui Puig, who had the game-winning assist to Joveljić, suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear during the match, the Galaxy confirmed less than 24 hours after the victory.
It’s impossible to determine when the moment happened, but by full-time, Puig certainly knew something was wrong. The Catalan fell into both his parents’ arms and those of Vanney during the Galaxy’s trophy celebration, with a towel covering what were certainly tears of frustration.
It’s a bucket of cold water on what otherwise had been a celebration of the Galaxy returning to the top of the MLS mountain. Instead, they’ll have to play their next match, a final, without their talisman. There’ll be tons of other repercussions because of Puig’s injury, but the immediate one is his absence from MLS Cup.
To get the Galaxy over the line, it was revealed Puig continued to play over thirty minutes despite his injury. His selfless play will certainly cement him in Galaxy lore for displaying what soccer fans call “defending the badge” or “playing for the shirt.” The Catalan’s gutsy performance to ensure victory evokes memories of Kobe Bryant staying on the court to hit two free throws to get the Lakers to the playoffs while on a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Soccer is cruel.
Puig and Galaxy fans will now understand this full well. If it weren’t, Puig would at least have the opportunity to compete for the cup on Saturday.
But as the team themselves have acknowledged, “the job’s not finished.” The Los Angeles Galaxy still have a job to see out on December 7.
What once was the race to seis is now a call to “win it for Riqui.” The Galaxy will have to tap into the heart they showed during the season to rattle off their first three-game win streak during the Greg Vanney era, also achieved without Puig.
They’ll also have to show the determination and resiliency that won them the day against the Sounders.
Read More: Why LA Galaxy Fans Should Be Thankful
The Defense That Doesn’t Like to Defend
Seattle Sounders Coach Brian Schmetzer and Sounders Midfielder Albert Rusnak probably won’t want to hear this, but for a team that supposedly “doesn’t like to defend,” as Rusnak claimed before Seattle faced the Galaxy earlier this year in the Leagues Cup, the Sounders were held scoreless by the Galaxy in three matches in all MLS competitions.
Not bad for a team with defense as it’s “Achilles heel.”
LA held the Sounders to just four shots on target on Saturday night and prevented them from creating any big chances. The Galaxy also prevented Seattle from getting anything from set pieces, which is surely a point of pride for a team that has struggled in that area all season.
When the Galaxy did begin to falter, Defenders Maya Yoshida or Emiro Garcés would make a last ditch tackle. On the most dangerous set pieces, John McCarthy made more than one big save.
“[Maya is a] great pro and great person and great leader, and happy to have him as my captain,” McCarthy told Extra Time Talk. “He stepped up big in big moments this year, and obviously, tonight, he had some huge plays.”
With McCarthy a decade Garcés’ senior and the even more experienced Yoshida at least 15 years older, both have taken the young Colombian defender under their tutelage. The trio’s partnership has seen the Galaxy lose just once in nine games since Garcés came into the starting lineup.
In his first conference final, Garcés had a 96% pass accuracy rate, three clearances, and two interceptions. Crucially, the 23-year-old won all but one of his five duels.
McCarthy didn’t seem surprised by Garcés’ success.
“Emi has been great, as well… really enjoys playing. Works hard. Gives 100 percent on every play. And he’s fully invested in learning and getting better,” McCarthy shared with Extra Time Talk. “He’s shown something different and something better at a young age and center back comes with experience, and over time, I think he could be something special, as well.”
Time will tell if Garcés becomes special. But on Saturday night against the Sounders, he produced some special moments to help the Galaxy win.
Delgado to Make His Mark?
With the defense in the best form of the season, the attention turns to a place that normally doesn’t cause consternation; the offense.
Usually, Vanney gives Puig the keys and says, “Drive.”
Puig’s injury means that someone will have to take his place. The most obvious person to step into Puig’s creator/number 10 role, is legendary Bundesliga player and recent Champions League finalist Marco Reus.
Although very different types of number 10’s, Reus’ vision should most closely replicate Puig’s passing range. He has nowhere near Puig’s mobility and pace, but that might serve to slow the game down to a pace the Galaxy like. There are questions about the ex-German International’s fitness post-Seattle, though, and that could open the door for Diego Fagundez to step into the lineup.
No matter who Vanney goes with, and it will most likely only be one of Fagundez or Reus, a midfield spot is up for grabs.
Reus got the starting nod against the Sounders, and the Galaxy struggled to break down the obstinate Seattle backline. In fact, for large periods in the first half, Seattle seemed on the front foot.
Mark Delgado’s inclusion to start the second half changed the match.
More of a box-to-box midfielder than Reus, Delgado helped take control of a midfield that was second to loose balls on more than one occasion. His pressure was vital to Seattle’s turnover off a seemingly harmless throw-in for the Galaxy’s goal.
Not only did his pressure help recover the ball, but his understanding with Puig, helped him know that Puig would be just ahead of him, where a soft floated pass would find him that he would serve up to Joveljić for the win.
Vanney called Mark Delgado, the team’s “great balancer” earlier this season, and should he get the start on Saturday, he’ll be vital in making sure this Galaxy team is staying true to its game plan of being patient and picking their moments.
In what is sure to be a highly emotional game, Delgado’s experience and ability to bring balance to the Galaxy might be the difference between LA lifting their sixth title and them coming up just short.
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