MLS
LA Galaxy fail to make it to the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs
For a second season in a row the team with the most titles in the league failed to qualify for the playoffs after a 3-3 draw against Minnesota United.
The Los Angeles Galaxy knew that if they won at home against Minnesota United they would clinch a spot in the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs. The scenario was perfect for the team with the most titles in the league (5) because they were ending the regular season at home at the Dignity Health Sports Park and they had their future in their own hands.
But they couldn't accomplish their objective because with the 3-3 draw against Minnesota, they saw their season coming to an end on Decision Day. It seemed as though a draw would be enough for them to advance, but Real Salt Lake scored a goal in stoppage time to beat Sporting KC to clinch the playoff spot and eliminate the Galaxy.
Frustrating night for the Galaxy
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández scored a brace to give the Galaxy hopes to book their ticket to the playoffs, but it wasn’t enough. The LA Galaxy ended the campaign in eighth place in the Western Conference, but the Mexican international led the club in goals with 17 and finished in third place in the race for the golden boot.
Chicharito reflects on the season after being eliminated
“There's going to be time to see in which part we didn't do well enough. It's obvious that we didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs, that’s why it didn’t happen. Regardless of some stuff that I've been listening about the VAR in another game in a goal or something like that, that 's incredible,” said Chicharito after the match against Minnesota.
"But I mean, yeah, there's going to be time. Right now, the only thing that I have in my feelings, in my mind and my brain and in everything is like, it hurts. It hurts when you give everything to something, it hurts. I'm very hurt. I feel sorry for myself, for the whole organization, for the whole family, for the fans, for the media, for everyone.
“You know, it's like, Yeah, we need to learn these lessons. Sometimes as humans, we don't want to go through because sometimes when you don't have a guarantee, you don't want to give everything you know. And I think that's something that we did as a family. We did everything that we could. We dreamed. We set a goal, but we couldn't achieve it. It is a very important lesson, a very painful one. And yeah, we need to move forward.”