MLS Playoffs: Sounders Fall 1-0 to Galaxy in Western Conference Final

By Niko Abian

The Seattle Sounders faced off against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2024 Major League Soccer Cup final on Nov. 30. (Photo courtesy/Getty Images)

The Seattle Sounders playoff run ended, Saturday Nov 30. as the LA Galaxy advanced to the 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final, where they will face the New York Red Bulls. Galaxy striker Dejan Joveljic scored the decisive goal with a first-time finish in the 85th minute.

Joveljic was assisted by star midfielder Riqui Puig. The Barcelona academy product often dropped deep to control the game’s tempo, limiting his presence in the final third of the pitch. However, he made the crucial pass when it mattered, finding Joveljic in stride for the first-touch finish.

The goal stemmed from a giveaway by Sounders right back Alex Roldan, whose risky chipped pass fell to the opposing team's midfielder Mark Delgado. Delgado quickly controlled and passed the ball to Puig.

The Sounders will be disappointed with the result, having effectively implemented their strategy. They stifled the Galaxy’s attack by playing pragmatically, choosing their moments to press or commit numbers forward. Both teams created a similar number of chances, despite the Galaxy playing at home and being favorites.

The Sounders were especially organized in the second half, giving up few chances prior to the goal. The Galaxy featured one of the most potent attacks in MLS history, with four players reaching double-digit goals this season: Puig, Joveljic, Joseph Paintsil and MLS Newcomer of the Year Gabriel Pec.

The Sounders looked more threatening for considerable stretches. They played particularly well when midfielders Cristian Roldan and Obed Vargas advanced, forming short passing sequences in the attacking third and quickly winning the ball back in the opponent’s half.

This type of short combination led to a dangerous free kick near the end of the first half. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy made a superb save to deny Albert Rusnák’s shot from finding the top corner. 

Rusnák, who tallied 10 goals and 12 assists for the Sounders this season, struggled as Seattle's corner-kick taker throughout the final match. Several times, he failed to clear the first defender and give his teammates a chance to compete for the ball. The Galaxy conceded the most goals from corners in MLS this season.

The Sounders' 22-year-old winger Georgi Minoungou, looked dangerous, dribbling directly towards the goal whenever he received the ball. One of his runs created a chance for Rusnák early on in the match.

The Galaxy advanced to their 10th MLS Cup final, their first since 2014 — the year they claimed their record fifth championship and bid farewell to acclaimed forward Landon Donovan after defeating the Sounders in the same round, 10 years earlier. The Galaxy also beat the Sounders in the Western Conference Final in 2012, winning another MLS Cup in what would be David Beckham’s final season.

The Galaxy host the Red Bulls Saturday Dec. 7, in a highly anticipated matchup between two original MLS clubs. The Red Bulls however are yet to win the MLS Cup. 

It’s been revealed that Puig suffered a torn ACL during the match against the Sounders, and will be unavailable for the final. Galaxy coach Greg Vanney, has admitted there is no like-for-like replacement for Puig, "We're going to have to adapt, and we're going to have to adapt in a collective way…It's not any one player who's going to step on and doesn't do what Ricky has done for us."