The Los Angeles Galaxy are close to sealing first place in the Western Conference coming into the 2024 MLS season, with Austin FC fighting desperately to stay alive in the playoff race. You got a team that's clinched a postseason berth and is looking to lock down first place, then you got another team that has to win to keep their hopes alive. The stage is now set for an intensity-filled, highly crucial game.
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LA Galaxy: Offensive Dominance and the Fight for the Top
Sitting atop the Western Conference standings with 61 points, LA Galaxy leads its rival, LAFC, by six points, though Black & Gold have a game in hand. And to add to their lead, Galaxy this season created history by being the first MLS team ever to see four players with 10 or more goals in one season: Dejan Joveljić netted 14 with six assists; Joseph Paintsi scored 10 with 10 assists; Gabriel Pec added 14 goals with 14 assists; and Riqui Puig added 13 goals with 14 assists. And that's all before Marco Reus's full impact on the roster has even kicked in.
These really outline how lethal Galaxy's attack has been this season, and they are not dependent on any one player to get the job done, which makes them unpredictable and very dangerous for opponents. In addition, their win against Colorado Rapids last Wednesday showed grit, as they came back in the second half with two goals from Puig, once more proving they can close out games. Galaxy has scored 15 goals inside the last 15 minutes of the games this season.
Austin FC: The Last Playoff Gamble
Meanwhile, Austin FC is in a different situation, as LA Galaxy has already sealed its ticket to the playoffs. Josh Wolff's team is presently out of the playoff zone, is left with two games to go, and six points behind the Portland Timbers, who occupy the final playoff spot in the West. Austin kept their hopes alive by beating Portland 1-0 on Wednesday but now need another huge victory against the conference leaders.
Austin has pulled off upsets this season and beat Galaxy 2-0 back in April at Q2 Stadium. But circumstances have changed, Galaxy is fully clicking, and taking on first place to confirm first place will not be easy. Austin will have to be as perfect in the back as they were against Portland and figure out a way to stifle the Galaxy diverse attack.