LA Galaxy claim their record sixth MLS Cup appearance with a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls

Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy defended their lead in a goalless second half and lifted their league’s biggest trophy for the first time since 2014.

MLS’s most successful franchise struggled for much of the next decade, even finishing 26th in the 29-team league last year. But the Galaxy turned everything around this season with a new, high-scoring lineup that finished second in the Western Conference and then stormed through the playoffs with a whopping 18 goals in five games to win another title.

Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose unlikely promotion to the playoffs ended one win shy of their inaugural cup championship. With the youngest roster in the league, New York narrowly managed to become the lowest-seeded team to win the MLS playoff tournament in their first year under German coach Sandro Schwarz.

Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made four saves to win his second MLS title in three seasons. He was the MVP of the 2022 MLS Cup Final for the Galaxy’s crosstown rival Los Angeles FC.

The Galaxy won this title without perhaps their most important player. Riqui Puig, Barcelona’s game-winning midfielder who has impressively run his offense all season, tore knee ligaments in the Western Conference final last week.

Puig watched the game in a suit, but his teammates hadn’t forgotten him: after his replacement, Gastón Brugman, set up LA’s opening goal with a great pass, Paintsil held up Puig’s jersey to his fans during the celebration.

Paintsil gave the Galaxy the lead in the ninth minute when he latched on to Brugman’s great pass and scored his 14th MLS goal in the Ghanaian striker’s outstanding first season – including four in the playoffs.

Just four minutes later, Joveljic sprinted past four New York defenders and scored the 21st goal of his outstanding year as a Galaxy forward.

Nealis got New York on the scoreboard in the 28th minute when he volleyed a ball into the goal that came loose in the LA penalty area following a corner. The Galaxy’s usually shaky defense allowed a handful of good chances before going into halftime with a tenuous lead.

The second half was lively but goalless. Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg hit the outside post in the 72nd minute, while Gabriel Pec and Galaxy substitute Marco Reus almost converted chances moments later.

In the third minute of extra time, the ball came loose again in the Galaxy’s penalty area, but two Red Bulls failed to finish. The Galaxy bench stormed onto the pitch and celebrated an early win in the seventh minute of stoppage time, but were pushed back for another 30 seconds of play.

The Galaxy finished 17-0-3 that season at their oft-renamed suburban stadium, where the sellout crowd of 26,812 at the finale included several vigorously cheering groups of traveling Red Bulls fans hoping to see their New Jersey-based club’s breakthrough in the largest stadium in the MLS.

The Galaxy’s Greg Vanney became the fourth coach to win an MLS title with two clubs. The former Galaxy player also won everything with Toronto in 2017.

The club, known for employing global stars from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Robbie Keane and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, has rebuilt itself this season with lesser-known young talent from around the world.

The Galaxy signed Pec from Brazil and Ghanaian Paintsil from Belgium, and the duo, along with incumbent Serbian striker Joveljic, formed a potent attack that could outscore almost any MLS opponent.

But the Galaxy also relied heavily on Puig, their Catalan catalyst and one of MLS’ best players. Puig remained in the game last week after injuring his knee and even delivered the crucial pass to Joveljic that led to the game’s only goal.