The last time the Galaxy played in the MLS Western Conference final, Gabriel Pec was in elementary school, Joseph Paintsil was in junior high and Riqui Puig had just entered Barcelona’s academy system.
It’s been a while.
But with all three players contributing to the scoring Sunday, the Galaxy found their way back to the conference championship game for the first time in a decade with a 6-2 win over Minnesota United before a sellout crowd of 26,192 at Dignity Health Sports Park. They will meet the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in Carson, where the Galaxy is unbeaten in 18 MLS games. The winner of that game will host the MLS Cup final Dec. 7.
The Galaxy haven’t just returned to the playoff final four, though. They’ve pillaged and rampaged their way there, destroying everyone in their path while scoring 15 times in three playoff wins in which they’ve never trailed. The goals Sunday came from the usual suspects with Pec, Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic all scoring goals in each half.
Read more: Rejuvenated Gabriel Pec embracing his ‘freedom to play soccer’ with Galaxy
If they aren’t the best team in MLS, they’re certainly the best team remaining.
Pec got the rout started 27 seconds after kickoff, running on to Puig’s long, bending-through ball from the center circle, battling defender Jefferson Diaz for control in the penalty area, then beating Minnesota keeper Dayne St. Clair with a left-footed shot to the far post.
It was the quickest playoff goal in franchise history.
Diaz helped get that back less than five minutes later, threading a pass through four Galaxy defenders to Kelvin Yeboah just outside the box. Yeboah then dribbled into the area before lifting a left-footed shot around Maya Yoshida and under the crossbar to tie the game.
The Galaxy went in front to stay in the 18th minute, and Pec was again in the middle of things, drawing a foul outside the box on the right wing. That led to a free kick that Marco Reus bent into the box for Joveljic, who outjumped four Minnesota defenders to nod the ball past St. Clair for a 2-1 lead.
Pec, who led the Galaxy in scoring and led outfield players in minutes played during the regular season,…