Galaxy rout Minnesota, will host Western Conference Final

The Los Angeles Galaxy are getting hot at just the right time.

That was more than evident Sunday afternoon. The fastest goal in franchise history kickstarted a brilliant performance that had the sellout crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park rowdy and on its feet throughout the entire match. Gabriel Pec, Dejan Joveljic and Joseph Paintsil carried the Galaxy, and they romped into the Western Conference Final with a resounding 6-2 win.

“I really believe playing at home makes a big difference,” Pec said of home field advantage. “The fans were absolutely great tonight. I’m really happy and it makes it super light. It’s a party, and to be able to see all the fans singing from the beginning to the end gives everyone motivation, and yes, our performance is way better.”

Pec, Paintsil and Joveljic each had a brace in the match, which saw the Galaxy to its first conference final since 2014, which was also the year it won its last MLS Cup. The only team standing between them and its first MLS Cup final in a decade is the Seattle Sounders, who got here by upsetting top-seeded LAFC a day before. That result was even more beneficial to the Galaxy, as it got them the opportunity to host the final this coming Saturday night.

“Each of them is playing at a high level right now,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “Each of them is the shark playing with a lot of intention and purpose. I think they are really connected with each other and each of them individually is playing at a high level.”

The Galaxy were off and running just 49 seconds into the match. Riqui Puig sent a long ball down into the penalty area, Pec beat Jefferson Diaz to the ball, deked Diaz to get himself open, keeper Dayne St. Clair left his line and Pec slotted the left-footed shot past St. Clair far post to put himself in the Galaxy record books for the fastest goal in franchise history.

Photo courtesy of the LA Galaxy.

Minnesota however tried to show they were going to be just a mere foil for the Galaxy. MNUFC equalized in the sixth minute, as Diaz passed to Kevin Yeboah, who dribbled into the penalty area and fired a left-footed volley that got past Galaxy keeper John McCarthy into the back net to level matters.

The Galaxy however had a response and more. The Galaxy retook the lead in the 18th minute, as Marco Reus sent a free kick into the penalty area and Joveljic headed a ball that beat St. Clair far post to put the Galaxy back ahead. The Galaxy then doubled the lead in the 35th minute, Maya Yoshida sprung Miki Yamane into the penalty area, Yamane crossed towards the six-yard box, Joveljic dummied a ball and Paintsil came in from the left side and finished the leftt-footed shot into the back net.

“I think there was some moments that we lose our focus and everything, but that moment did also not really distract us,” Painstil said. “We really stand firm and we just did what we need to do.”

Minnesota caught a break just before halftime. it started in stoppage time, as Painstil fouled Carlos Harvey inside the penalty area and referee Rosendo Mendoza signaled Minnesota to the penalty spot. Yeboah stepped up for Minnesota and sent the shot to his right, but McCarthy guessed right, and parried the shot away. Mendoza however got the call from VAR referee Storin Stoica, and the replays saw that McCarthy left his line way before Yeboah touched the ball, Minnesota was awarded a retake, Yeboah this time went to his left, and while McCarthy again guessed right, Yeboah put the ball out of McCarthy’s reach to get his second goal of the match, and thus keep Minnesota in the match.

The Galaxy however nullified the notion of any potential drama in the match. The Galaxy again struck early in the half, as Pec received a ball from Emilio Garces, then dribbled about 75 yards out past the Minnesota defense into the penalty area and ended up firing a left-footed shot past St. Clair and snuck in at the far post for a 50th minute goal that restored its two-goal advantage. The Galaxy blew the match open the rest of the half, as Paintsil got his brace in the second half with a strike in the 89th minute.