MLS: Breaking down the Western Conference Playoffs
By Matt Coles
[5] Los Angeles Galaxy
Travelling to Minnesota on Sunday evening will be the Los Angeles Galaxy, who finished the regular campaign in fifth place, just two points behind the Loons.
The Galaxy have been led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic all season, who scored 30 times over the course of the season, more than half of the team’s goals (58). However, despite the goalscoring Swede up top, they ended the season with a negative goal difference, thanks to a very leaky defence.
LA only kept eight clean sheets throughout the campaign and they conceded at least three in ten different matches, with just a single point coming from those games, a 3-3 draw with city rivals Los Angeles FC.
The majority of those ten matches came in the latter part of the season. The Galaxy led the way through the end of April. They had only dropped five points from their opening nine games, with seven wins in that time. However, from there, the side then lost ten of their next 15 matches, including runs of three and four defeats in a row at separate times. A run of three straight wins in September, including scoring seven against Sporting Kansas City, saw the Galaxy book their spot in the playoffs.
They will face the Loons on Sunday evening, with the hosts going in as favourites, but can the Galaxy start their run to a tenth MLS Cup final?
First Round Fixture – Sunday 20th – 20:30 ET:
[4] Minnesota United v [5] Los Angeles Galaxy