Galaxy rally from two-goal deficit to defeat LAFC and clinch playoff berth

15.09.2024 07:50

DailyNews.com

LA Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, center, recovers the ball against the Los Angeles FC during the first half of an MLS soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. LA Galaxy won 4-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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CARSON — The Galaxy entered Saturday’s clash against rival LAFC with a chance to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

At the start of the week, a win was needed, by kickoff, due to some early results, a draw would have sufficed.

Entering halftime, the Galaxy would have been lucky with a draw as they trailed by two goals.

However, in the second half, the Galaxy’s (16-6-7, 55 points) fortunes turned with a three-goal outburst in a 15-minute span on the way to a 4-2 win in front of a sellout crowd of 25,174 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“The first goal, coming relatively early in the second half was huge because it sparked another layer of that belief that if you keep it up, it’s going to come,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “I’m proud of the guys because they got punched in the mouth in the beginning but they responded really well.”

The win increases the Galaxy lead over LAFC (14-7-6, 48 points) in the Western Conference to seven points. The Galaxy have five games remaining, while LAFC has seven.

This is the second time in Vanney’s tenure that the Galaxy will be in the playoffs. The last time was in 2022.

“This was a moment we felt was a big experience,” Vanney said. “An important game for us to be able to control the West, solidify a playoff spot, be at home and to get punched in the mouth, in the first 15 minutes, be down two, the response I think showed a lot of maturity and showed a lot of belief and it showed that we can execute and the quality on the field stepped up and made things happen.”

Dejan Joveljic started the comeback in the 53rd minute, followed by a rocket of a shot by Edwin Cerrillo in the 55th from atop the 18-yard box that tied the game at 2-2. Then in the 63rd minute, Joveljic put the Galaxy ahead with a simple flick off of a pass from Riqui Puig.

The night had an even wilder turn in the 79th minute as LAFC midfielder Lewis O’Brien received a straight red card for a tackle on Miki Yamane.

In the 86th minute, Puig put the game away and put the finishing touches on the Galaxy’s playoff-clinching win with a long-distance shot that snuck inside the post for a goal.

“It was looking at the first half and saying OK, we can’t do anything what has happened,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Here are the things we need to do and just needed to raise our intensity and raise the attention and the guys came out and they were flying.

“The confidence they showed and the personality they showed in the second half, as a coach, it was fun to watch.”

Vanney was obviously concerned during the week about the challenge of facing LAFC.

“A lot of these games we carry some version of possession because they’re not too really worried about carrying possession,” he said. “For us, it’s important, as we say in a lot of our games, especially against them, how we lose the ball, where we lose the ball … making sure we finish attacks is really important because if we’re just losing the ball in between lines, it’s going to set up their transitions. We have to be able to create high-quality chances against them even though they’re a good defensive team.”

For at least a half, the Galaxy’s plan and goals worked out.

“Terrible, terrible start as you could see,” Galaxy defender and captain Maya Yoshida said. “We didn’t lose our heads and that was a good point for us.”

LAFC entered the game trying to become the first to ever sweep a season series in this brief, combustible rivalry. LAFC won the previous two meetings (April 6 and July 4) by the same 2-1 score.

Inside of the first 15 minutes of the game, LAFC had put the Galaxy in serious trouble with goals from Mateusz Bogusz (fourth minute) and Denis Bouanga (15th minute) for an early 2-0 lead. The Galaxy were extremely fortunate that the deficit didn’t increase because LAFC had several chances including a shot by Olivier Giroud that hit the post.

The Galaxy made it to halftime trailing 2-0 and found the much-needed life on Joveljic’s first goal. Joveljic had missed seven games due to a hamstring injury. He returned to action Sept. 1 against St. Louis City SC.

In 2001, the teams met three times, the Galaxy won one and the other two ended in draws.

Both teams will be back in action midweek, Wednesday. LAFC will be home against Austin FC, while the Galaxy will be on the road against the Portland Timbers.

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Galaxy rally from two-goal deficit to defeat LAFC and clinch playoff berth

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