CARSON, Calif. – A decade to the date since the club last lifted the MLS Cup, the LA Galaxy won their league-leading sixth MLS Cup trophy following a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, who began his playing career and lost three MLS Cup Finals as a player for the club, knows just how much this title means to everyone involved with the organization, especially the man at the top.
“We're all here because of Mr. [Phillip] Anschutz, and I'm in the entire league, and so I'm happy for him. We all have our reasons why people we really want to work for. And you know, Mr. Anschutz gave me my opportunity to play here and to play professional soccer. And so for him, I'm happy, and was great to see him after the game. I know he's proud of this group as well.”
In a city known for its stars, the Galaxy reached the pinnacle despite missing the club’s biggest star, midfield maestro Riqui Puig, who tore his ACL during the Western Conference Final against the Seattle Sounders.
"One person isn't going to win for us and one person is going to lose it for us. It was a total group effort, and today it showed that even though he wasn't on the field, we did it for him, just like we did it for the group all season long," John McCarthy said of Puig.
Puig had four goals and four assists this postseason before the injury, yet, despite missing their biggest offensive contributor, the Galaxy scored back-to-back goals within the first 15 minutes of action.
JP2⃣8⃣ pic.twitter.com/dE5kfV2mo7
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) December 7, 2024
Gaston Brugman, who made his last start on Oct. 5 and started in place of Puig, sent a through ball that slipped between four Red Bull defenders which landed at the feet of Paintsil, who did the rest to make it 1-0.
“As we came out of the last game and we knew we were going to play Red Bulls, it was obviously, a tough decision, because Diego [Fagundez] has been incredible all year, obviously a guy like Marco, who we weren't quite sure but we were hoping he was going to be ready,” Vanney said.
The opening goal set the tone for the rest of Brugman’s shift as he went on to earn the MLS Cup Final MVP for his efforts.
Brugman said Vanney told him Tuesday he would be starting the Final and he took the time to focus on himself.
"If he wasn't on the field today, I don't think it would've happened the same way because he won balls in huge areas, he was able to connect passes, he did everything. It was one of those games where it was almost perfect... He deserves that MVP. No question," McCarthy said.
The decision to start Brugman may have been a surprise to some, but not to Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz.
“The LA Galaxy were clear in how they played, the only question was if Marco Reus was going to be in the lineup, but he came off the bench,” Schwarz said.
Less than five minutes later, Dejan Joveljic would double LA’s lead after receiving the ball from Mark Delgado at the top of the box and turning to finish the shot.
Dejan is CLINICAL. pic.twitter.com/7XnAcXxPCy
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) December 7, 2024
Just before the half hour mark, the Red Bulls would strike back after Joseph Paintsil failed to clear a New York corner kick, which bounced around in the area before landing at the feet of Sean Nealis who finished the goal and make it 2-1.
Saturday’s fast start marked the first time since 2015 where three goals were scored in the opening 30 minutes of an MLS Cup Final.
The second half saw less action in terms of goals scored, but the drama intensified with each passing minute.
The Galaxy managed to hold on and control the midfield to secure the victory despite missing Puig thanks to standout performances by Brugman, Edwin Cerrillo and Mark Delgado.
Today’s MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi featured three goals in the opening 30 minutes for the third time in league history and first time since @MLS Cup 2015. pic.twitter.com/G8wYwOYZ9Z
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) December 7, 2024
The Galaxy’s victory marks the third consecutive season where a club that didn’t qualify for the postseason the year prior, won the MLS Cup the following year.
Vanney has seen the MLS blossom into the league it is today and he knows that quick turnarounds like the Galaxy’s aren’t exactly the norm in MLS, but can be.
“That's one of the beauties of our league, is it's possible. And I think that now with next year 30 teams, we're getting more and more different approaches to how teams want to build rosters and how they're looking to try to be successful and win and defining success. And I think that's exciting for the league. I've been here when the league was 10 teams. 30 teams is really amazing.”
Henry Tran - The Sporting Tribune
LA Galaxy Forward Joseph Painstil (28) holds up Riqui Puig's kit after scoring goal during match against New York Red Bulls on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in Carson, CA.
The victory capped one of the greatest turnarounds in MLS history.
A year removed from finishing near the bottom of the standings amid internal turmoil and supporter protests, the Galaxy stormed through 2024 with one of the league’s best offenses.
LA outscored opponents by 14 goals during the postseason, while only conceding four times in the same span. The Galaxy also finished 2024 undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park across the regular and postseason.
Vanney is sure this group will be remembered for years to come.
"These guys deserve it. The way they've come together this year and competed, the way they've played. There's many guys and this whole team will go down in the history as a one of the great teams, I think, of the Galaxy, not just because of today, but all year. I mean, they broke all kinds of records all year in a club that has set a lot of records in the league over the years. These guys have broken a lot of those records over the years. So they will be remembered for it, and I believe they will, because of the way they finished it off today."