Your Monday Kickoff: Does MLS Cup glory await LA Galaxy?

With the international break at hand, we figured we’d take a look at each remaining playoff team and gauge their hopes of winning an MLS Cup. We’ll go from lowest seed to highest seed, starting with the East. Yesterday, Seattle. Today, the Galaxy.

The season didn’t quite end how LA had hoped. They were on the verge of clinching the top spot in the West before giving up a late winner to Houston 100 minutes into their final match of the season. Everything else though? That couldn’t have gone better. The Galaxy turned into an elite attacking side thanks to the addition of wingers Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec. Paintsil scored 10 goals and delivered 10 assists on the year. Pec put up 16 goals and 14 assists in his first season in MLS on his way to winning Newcomer of the Year. And the Galaxy became the first team in MLS history to have four players score 10 or more goals in a season.

So far in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, they haven’t slowed down in attack. They pummeled the poor Rapids in 5-0 and 4-1 Round One wins. With Miami and Columbus gone, they are by far the most dangerous attacking team left in the postseason.

They’re also a volatile defensive team. Those issues haven’t gone away. If we’re looking at underlying numbers, LA weren’t just one of the worst defensive teams among remaining playoff sides, but one of the worst defensive teams in the league, period. Per American Soccer Analysis, only New England, Montréal, San Jose, St. Louis, Dallas and Austin allowed more xG per game. LA and Inter Miami are tied for xG allowed this season. That’s… not good company when you’re trying to make a playoff run. Just ask Inter Miami.

Does all that really matter when you have Riqui Puig pulling the strings? What about when you catch a break in the playoffs and end up facing an easier schedule than you would have if you had finished first? LA already dealt with a zombified Rapids side that hadn’t done anything since Leagues Cup. Now they get a shot at sixth-seeded Minnesota United rather than having to deal with Seattle.

That’s not to be dismissive of Minnesota. They may not be Seattle, but there haven’t been many teams with better records down the stretch. In fact, only Miami and Seattle earned more points after Leagues Cup. The Loons are still a better matchup than the Sounders, but…