MLS
Who next for LA Galaxy after destroying Rapids? | MLS playoffs 2024
Los Angeles progressed past Colorado with ease in the best-of-three series to secure their ticket to the next round.
The 2024 MLS playoffs are underway, and in the best-of-three series, LA Galaxy made the most of their home advantage in the first game, defeating the Colorado Rapids with a decisive 5-0 scoreline. Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig each scored twice, with an additional goal from John Nelson sealing the result for the Los Angeles side.
Galaxy impress with 9-1 aggregate score
Galaxy then traveled to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City to finish the job and secure their ticket to the next round of the MLS playoffs, aiming to capture the MLS Cup, as they boast one of the strongest squads in American soccer under the management of Greg Vanney. The match ended 4-1 in their favor, thanks to goals from Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and another brace from Puig. They now await either Real Salt Lake or Minnesota, with United taking the first game on penalties.
Just eight minutes into the game, American goalkeeper Zack Steffen attempted to clear the ball, only for it to rebound off Pec and head toward the goal, allowing the Brazilian winger to score the opener and boost Vanney’s men.
Oliver Larraz responded by levelling the score in the 19th minute with a powerful long-range strike, giving hope to Chris Armas and his teammates, as the 23-year-old midfielder’s goal demonstrated that despite the first game’s heavy loss, they were intent on asserting their home advantage to push the series to a third and final game. However, in added time of the first half (45+3′), Paintsil took a chance from outside the box, placing the ball out of Steffen’s reach to put LA back in front.
LA Galaxy complete the job in Colorado
The second half of the match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park became practically routine, as the score remained unchanged, and LA Galaxy won the series without needing a third game to decide it. Marco Reus, one of MLS’s star signings, is experiencing his first playoffs and is aiming to reach the later stages, first awaiting the winner between Real Salt Lake and Minnesota. The German played just over half an hour and continues to build his form for the phase where he’ll be most needed.
As in the first match of the series, Riqui Puig scored a brace in the 91st and 93rd minutes, sealing the tie with yet another rout in Galaxy’s favor, who now establish themselves as serious title contenders.
- 95 Zackary Steffen
- 5 Maxso
- 4 Reggie Cannon
- 6 Lalas Abubakar (59')
- 20 Connor Ronan
- 18 Oliver Larraz (79')
- 2 Keegan Rosenberry (83')
- 3 Samuel Vines
- 91 Kévin Cabral (45')
- 10 Djordje Mihailović
- 9 Rafael Navarro
- Substitutes
- 14 Calvin Harris (59')
- 21 Jasper Löffelsend
- 31 Adam Beaudry
- 77 Darren Yapi (83')
- 11 Omir Fernandez (45')
- 7 Jonathan Lewis (79')
- 22 Sebastian Anderson
- 27 Kimani Stewart-Baynes
- 24 Wayne Frederick II
- 77 John McCarthy
- 14 John Nelson
- 4 Maya Yoshida
- 2 Miki Yamane
- 25 Carlos Garcés
- 10 Riqui Puig x2 (93')
- 8 Marky Delgado (64')
- 20 Edwin Cerrillo
- 28 Joseph Paintsil (72')
- 11 Gabriel Pec (93')
- 9 Dejan Joveljic (64')
- Substitutes
- 35 Novak Micovic
- 3 Julián Aude
- 5 Brugman (64')
- 19 Mauricio Cuevas
- 24 Jalen Neal (93')
- 7 Diego Fagundez (72')
- 27 Miguel Berry (93')
- 18 Marco Reus (64')
- 15 Eriq Zavaleta
Substitutions
Omir Fernandez (45', Kévin Cabral), Calvin Harris (59', Lalas Abubakar), Gastón Brugman (64', Mark Delgado), Marco Reus (64', Dejan Joveljic), Diego Fagúndez (72', Joseph Paintsil), Jonathan Lewis (79', Oliver Larraz), Darren Yapi (83', Keegan Rosenberry), Jalen Neal (93', Riqui Puig), Miguel Berry (93', Gabriel Pec)
Goals
0-1, 7': Gabriel Pec, 1-1, 18': Oliver Larraz, 1-2, 47': Joseph Paintsil, 1-3, 90': Riqui Puig, 1-4, 92': Riqui Puig
Cards
Referee: Victor Manuel Rivas
VAR Referee: Ismail Elfath, Jonathan Johnson
Lalas Abubakar (2',Yellow), Edwin Cerrillo (71',Yellow), Reggie Cannon (84',Yellow), John Nelson (89',Yellow)