The Los Angeles Galaxy overcame the loss of their most dynamic player to win their first Major League Soccer championship in 10 years Saturday.
Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljić scored four minutes apart early in the first half, then Los Angeles repelled the New York Red Bulls to earn MLS Cup with a 2-1 victory in front of 26,812 at the Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy’s home field.
Thus did the Galaxy secure their sixth MLS Cup, most in league history, and their first since defeating the New England Revolution 2-1 in extra time at the same field in 2014. Saturday marked the 10-year anniversary of that achievement.
The victory also culminates a massive recovery from last year, when the Galaxy won only eight games and allowed a league-high 67 goals. Fan discontent led to a boycott that cost two former Galaxy players, president Chris Klein and technical director Jovan Kirovski, their jobs. Fifa sanctioned Klein in 2022 for breaching guidelines on player salaries and roster composition.
“We’ve proven, I think, that we’re back as an organization, and now we’re back as champions,” said Galaxy coach Greg Vanney, who played seven of his 10 seasons in MLS with the club. “I think this year, this team has proven that quality is back. At the Galaxy, it’s about winning championships, and these guys did it. They cemented their legacy and I’m proud of them.”
Los Angeles won without playmaking midfielder Riqui Puig, who made the MLS Best XI after amassing career highs of 13 goals and 15 assists. Puig also led the league in passes (2,497) and free kicks (143), enabling the Galaxy to become the first MLS squad to have four players score at least 10 goals apiece, and to set an MLS record for playoff goals (18).
Puig tore his left anterior cruciate ligament on 30 November in the Western Conference final against Seattle. Nevertheless, the former Barcelona reserve played the final 30 minutes of that match and assisted on the lone goal in the 85th minute.
“It was devastating,” Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy said about Puig’s loss. “He’s a special player. He’s a difference maker. We wouldn’t be in this situation without him.”
But Puig’s replacement, Gaston Brugman, won the game’s most valuable player award in his first start since 5 October. Injuries limited the Uruguayan midfielder to 22 games, 12 of them starts, and five assists during the regular season.
“He did everything,” McCarthy said. “He won balls in huge areas. He was able to connect passes. He had some awesome moments being able to get out of sticky situations. It was almost a perfect game from a midfielder.”
Brugman made an immediate impact. After a give-and-go with fellow midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, Brugman found Paintsil heading toward goal. After beating defenders Dylan Nealis and Cameron Harper, Paintsil slotted an 11-yard shot off his right instep to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.
Then in the 13th minute, Mark Delgado intercepted Sean Nealis’ downward header and found Joveljic, who ran through the defense and sent a rolling 11-yard shot inside the right post past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who froze on the play.
The early goals stunned the Red Bulls, who missed central defender Andres Reyes. Though he participated in warmups, Reyes apparently fell ill afterward and was replaced by Noah Elie.
“He felt sick after our warmup,” New York coach Sandro Schwarz said about Reyesw. “It was a question for two minutes, one minute. Was he able to play? But then at the end, he was not able.”
Reyes’ absence sabotaged the Red Bulls’ high pressure early.
“I think the first 20 minutes were a little bit sloppy from us,” said Sweden international Emil Forsberg, the Red Bulls’ captain. “I think we weren’t as aggressive as we should be, maybe then not that clever with the ball for 15 minutes. We just came into the game and had to feel the game a little bit. But after that, I think we played a really good game. I think we took control of the game and tried to do something.”
New York drew within one goal in the 28th minute. Los Angeles’ defender Maya Yoshida used a bicycle kick to try clearing a ball out of the penalty area that resulted from Forsberg’s corner kick. But Sean Nealis intercepted the clearance with his chest and converted a half volley from 10 yards.
The Red Bulls had their best chances to tie late in the second half. Forsberg had a wide-open shot on a counterattack in the 72nd minute but missed to the right from 17 yards. Then in the 85th minute, an unmarked Harper circled toward the back post on Forsberg’s corner kick from the left side, then took a low 15-yard shot that McCarthy fielded.
Puig witnessed the action from the sidelines in a blue suit. But once the game ended, he changed into his uniform to join his teammates for the awards ceremony.
Former Germany international Marco Reus, who had been fighting a groin injury, replaced Brugman in the 75th minute. Thus for the first time, Reus wins a domestic championship in a nation’s top division. In 2007-08, Reus helped Rot Weiss Ahlen win Germany’s third division.
