LA Galaxy beat Minnesota 6-2 to reach Western Conference Finals in the MLS Playoffs- Next game Nov 30th
It’s been many years since the LA Galaxy made it to the Western Conference finals, but they did so on Sunday, November 24 with an arousing 6-2 victory over the Minnesota United their three forwards each scoring two goals and they got off to a great start with Brazilian Gabriel Peck scoring in the first minute.
Minnesota tied it five minutes later with forward Yeboah scoring and adding a second goal in the 49th minute.
Pec had his second goal in the 50th minute after Joveljic and Ghana star Striker Painstil each scored. Painstil was the highest paid player this year for the team, but he paid off scoring his second of the game in the 86 minute before Joveljic scored his second in the 89th minute. Pec leather team with 19 goals and 15 assists as he is a superstar in the making for a league.
While their scoring was lethal, the star of the game was Ricky Puig in my opinion. Picking him up a few years ago from Barcelona was a brilliant move. He scored 17 goals and had 11 assists. Media is supposed to stay impartial, but he has become a favorite of mine besides being a fan favorite. He is all over the place and doesn’t stop running like an energizer robot. He is a poor man’s Luka Modric with bursts of speed and attacking. He controls the ball with precise magic and makes some of the more incredible passes you will ever see, especially with the outside of his foot. Midseason acquisition Marco Reus from Germany. Also played a key part as he is super steady and composed with the ball. Center mid Edwin Cirillo also played well, and their defense walked down. Goalie John McCarthy was steady, and it is no wonder the Galaxy played so well this season. Only losing out to LAFC in the last game of the season for the most points in the MLS.
It looked like it was going to be a showdown in LA, but LAFC was upset so the galaxy hosts the Seattle sounders on November 30 back at the Dignity Health Sports Park with the winner playing for the MLS championship on December 7.
It was a super exciting game with many scoring chances and flawless play by the home galaxy. Head coach Greg Vanney was ecstatic and has done a fantastic job having a team play with great chemistry.
LA GALAXY
Gabriel Pec (1′) D. Joveljić (18′)
J. Paintsil (37′) Gabriel Pec (50′)
J. Paintsil (86′) D. Joveljić (89′)
6 – 2
(3 – 2)
MINNESOTA UNITED
K. Yeboah (6′) K. Yeboah (49′)
Galaxy Starting Lineup
77
John
McCarthy
14
John
Nelson
4
Maya
Yoshida
25
Carlos
Garcés
2
Miki
Yamane
10
Riqui
Puig
20
Edwin
Cerrillo
18
Marco
Reus
28
Joseph
Paintsil
9
Dejan
Joveljic
11
Gabriel Pec
LA Galaxy Top 5 Players
S H O T S
Joseph Paintsil 5
Dejan Joveljic 4
Gabriel Pec 4
John Nelson 1
Maya Yoshida 1
S H O T S O N T A R G E T
Joseph Paintsil 4
Gabriel Pec 3
Dejan Joveljic 2
John Nelson 1
C H A N C E S C R E A T E D
Riqui Puig 4
Dejan Joveljic 4
Marco Reus 2
John Nelson 1
Carlos Garcés 1
C O M P L E T E D PA S S E S
Riqui Puig 132
Miki Yamane 82
Maya Yoshida 78
Edwin Cerrillo 74
Carlos Garcés 64
C O M P L E T E D PA S S E S F I N A L T H I R D
Riqui Puig 30
Marco Reus 13
Miki Yamane 6
John Nelson 5
Mark Delgado 5
C R O S S E S A T T E M P T E D
Riqui Puig 6
Marco Reus 5
Mauricio Cuevas 1
S U C C E S S F U L D R I B B L E S
Gabriel Pec 4
Joseph Paintsil 1
Mark Delgado 1
T A C K L E S W O N
Carlos Garcés 5
Dejan Joveljic 2
Gabriel Pec 2
John Nelson 1
Edwin Cerrillo 1
R E C O V E R I E S
John McCarthy 11
Carlos Garcés 8
Gabriel Pec 5
John Nelson 4
Miki Yamane 4
L A G A L A X Y T O U C H E S
# Player Touches
10 Riqui Puig 165
2 Miki Yamane 102
4 Maya Yoshida 91
25 Carlos Garcés 86
20 Edwin Cerrillo 86
14 John Nelson 82
18 Marco Reus 74
11 Gabriel Pec 64
9 Dejan Joveljic 28
28 Joseph Paintsil 26
77 John McCarthy 25
8 Mark Delgado 17
5 Gastón Brugman 5
7 Diego Fagúndez 5
19 Mauricio Cuevas 1
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