LA Galaxy see off New York Red Bulls for record-extending sixth MLS Cup title
The Los Angeles Galaxy overcame the loss of their most dynamic player to win their first Major League Soccer championship in 10 years on Saturday.
Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljić scored four minutes apart early in the first half as Los Angeles knocked off the New York Red Bulls to earn the MLS Cup with a 2–1 victory in front of 26,812 at Dignity Health Sports Park, the home field of the Galaxy.
The Galaxy won their sixth MLS Cup, the most in the league’s history, and their first since beating the New England Revolution 2-1 in overtime on the same field in 2014. Saturday marked the tenth anniversary of that achievement.
The victory also culminates in a huge recovery from last year, when the Galaxy won just eight games and allowed a whopping 67 goals in the league. Fan dissatisfaction 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 violating guidelines on player salaries and squad 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 team has proven this year that the quality is back. The Galaxy is about winning championships, and these guys did it. They have cemented their legacy and I am 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), allowing the Galaxy to become the first MLS side to have four players score at least 10 goals each and set an MLS record for playoff goals (18).
Puig tore his left anterior cruciate ligament on November 30 in the Western Conference finals against Seattle. Nevertheless, the former Barcelona reserve played the last 30 minutes of that match and assisted the only goal in the 85th minute.
“It was devastating,” Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy said of Puig’s loss. “He is a special player. He is a difference maker. Without him we would not be in this situation.”
But Puig’s replacement, Gaston Brugman, won the game’s most valuable player award in his first start since October 5. Injuries limited the Uruguayan midfielder to 22 games, including 12 starts, and five assists during the regular season.
“He did everything,” McCarthy said. “He won balls in big areas. He could connect passes. He had some great moments when he was able to get out of tough situations. It was almost a perfect match from a midfielder.”
Brugman made an immediate impression. After a give-and-go with fellow midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, Brugman found Paintsil on its way to goal. After beating defenders Dylan Nealis and Cameron Harper, Paintsil fired an eleven-yard shot from his right instep to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.
In the 13th minute, Mark Delgado intercepted Sean Nealis’ downward header and found Joveljic, who ran through the defense and sent a rolling shot from 11 yards inside the right post past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who froze in play.
The early goals stunned the Red Bulls, who missed centre-back Andres Reyes. Although he participated in warm-ups, Reyes apparently fell ill afterward and was replaced by Noah Elie.
“He felt sick after our warm-up,” New York coach Sandro Schwarz said of Reyesw. “It was a question for two minutes, one minute. Could he play? But in the end he didn’t succeed.”
Reyes’ absence sabotaged the Red Bulls’ high pressure early on.
“I think the first 20 minutes were a bit sloppy from us,” said Swedish international Emil Forsberg, captain of the Red Bulls. “I don’t think we were as aggressive as we should have been, maybe not as smart with the ball for 15 minutes. We just got into the game and had to feel the game a little bit. But after that I think we played a very 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 to clear a ball from the penalty area that resulted from Forsberg’s corner kick. But Sean Nealis intercepted the ball with his chest and converted a half volley from ten yards.
The Red Bulls had the best chances for a draw late in the second half. Forsberg had a wide open shot on a counterattack in the 72nd minute, but missed from 17 yards to the right. Then in the 85th minute an unmarked Harper circled towards the back post after Forsberg’s corner from the left and then took a low shot from 15 yards which McCarthy handled.
Puig, wearing a blue suit, witnessed the action from the sidelines. But once the game ended, he put on his uniform to join his teammates for the awards ceremony.
Former German international Marco Reus, who was struggling with a groin injury, replaced Brugman in the 75th minute. This is how Reus wins a domestic championship in the highest division of a country for the first time. In 2007–08, Reus Rot helped Weiss Ahlen win Germany’s third division.