The Los Angeles Galaxy beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at dwelling to win the 2024 MLS Cup. It is the group’s record-setting sixth MLS title and its first in a decade.
The sport was determined within the opening 20 minutes, when Los Angeles took benefit of a late New York scratch. (Central defender Andres Reyes withdrew from the squad after warmups as a result of sickness.) With last-minute substitute Noah Eile unaccustomed to enjoying Reyes’ position, Los Angeles knew its greatest scoring alternatives would come rapidly. It danced circles round Eile whereas he struggled to search out his footing.
Joseph Paintsil scored the opening purpose 9 minutes in, adopted by a magnificence from Dejan Joveljic at 13 minutes.
Sean Nealis scored for the Crimson Bulls at 28 minutes, however that might be the ultimate purpose of the match.
Los Angeles made the MLS Cup closing by holding the ball and charging ahead with abandon; New York made it by rejecting the ball, holding a powerful defensive form and forcing its opponents to discover a manner by way of. There was each cause to imagine that the 2 groups would revert to sort throughout this match, however as a substitute, they did the alternative.
Los Angeles, defending an early two-goal lead, sat again and absorbed New York’s stress, whereas New York wound up posting a >50% ball possession stat for the primary time on this postseason.
Neither group regarded notably snug with this change. In the long run, it was Los Angeles — the house group and the clear favourite earlier than a ball was kicked — that made fewer errors on the evening, and that was sufficient to clinch its record-setting sixth MLS Cup.
The Los Angeles Galaxy is an MLS authentic — one of many oldest franchise within the league and simply probably the most profitable. The origins of the Galaxy namesake are hazy; some imagine the title got here from Hollywood’s Stroll of Fame, whereas others imagine it honored the observatories of the group’s early Pasadena dwelling.
However regardless of the intentions had been, they didn’t final. The group started signing big-name athletes and known as itself the Galaxy for its constellation of soccer stars. Cobi Jones. Landon Donovan. David Beckham. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Lengthy earlier than Lionel Messi, lengthy earlier than the Fab 4, lengthy earlier than Inter Miami was even a proposal binder sitting on league commissioner Don Garber’s desk, the Galaxy was MLS’s undisputed movie star group.
This contemporary Galaxy, although, is one thing completely different. It muddled by way of a full decade exterior of the MLS highlight, dropping its luster — and its native dominance — to upstart rival Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy completed the 2023 season in 26th place amongst 29 MLS groups, tormented by fan protests and staged walkouts over the abysmal state of its entrance workplace.
In a heartwarming win for that fan-led motion, the Galaxy responded to 2023 by making massive modifications. It dropped its controversial president Chris Klein, introduced in new scouts and started working. The Galaxy took an opportunity on uncooked expertise over established stardom, and that probability paid off handsomely. Led by Spain’s Riqui Puig, Brazil’s Gabriel Pec, Ghana’s Joseph Paintsil and Serbia’s Dejan Joveljic, the group turned appointment viewing for MLS followers at each stage of the season. There was no Cobi Jones, no Landon Donovan, no David Beckham, no Zlatan Ibrahimovic. For as soon as, the Galaxy didn’t want that crutch.
It was thrilling to observe the Galaxy rent big-name stars in its heyday. Nevertheless it’s way more thrilling to observe this contemporary Galaxy make big-name stars of its personal. It earned the 2024 MLS Cup truthful and sq. and finishes the season because the league’s deserved champion.
MLS will return to motion with a brand-new season in February 2025.
