The Galaxy hadn’t played a game this late in the calendar in nearly a decade, but they adjusted with little trouble Saturday, defeating the Colorado Rapids in the first round of the MLS Western Conference playoffs in front of a crowd. We beat them 5-0. of 24,537 in Dignity Health Sports Park.
The game was much more one-sided than the score, with the Galaxy scoring two goals from Dejan Jovezic, two from Riqui Puig, and one from John Nelson. Four of the points from USA goaltender Zach Steffen came in the second half.
Meanwhile, Galaxy goalie John McCarthy had a quiet night in goal, recording a shutout without making a save.
The win was the most lopsided result in an MLS playoff game since November 2014, when the Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 5-0 in the first round en route to winning MLS Cup.
The win sends the Galaxy to Game 2 of a best-of-three series in suburban Denver on Friday, but they need one more win to advance to the conference semifinals. A loss would force a third game on Nov. 9 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Neither outcome would be ideal for the Galaxy given the unusual schedule of the MLS playoffs.
Winning the first two games of the series would advance the Galaxy to the conference semifinals, but the team’s next game will be Nov. 23 at the earliest, as the playoffs will be suspended during the November international break. It will be suspended for 22 days. That could take away the team’s rhythm.
On the other hand, if they lose, they will be forced to play a winner-take-all game at home, where the Galaxy’s season is at stake.
In any case, the Galaxy haven’t played a game in November since his last game as manager at Bruce Arena in 2016, when he lost on penalties in Game 2 of a two-leg conference semifinal against the Rapids. It will make history.
Although the Galaxy started off Saturday — they had the ball for nearly an hour of the 90 minutes — they were sluggish and struggled to connect passes early on. Their aggression finally paid off in the 32nd minute when Puig’s outswinging corner kick was met by Jovezic on the forehead and Steffen looped a soft header into the right post.
The goal was Galaxy’s 70th of the season, and their third from a corner kick, but it was Jovezic’s 16th goal of the season, putting him tied with Gabriel Peck for the top spot on the team. Puig only took nine corner kicks during the regular season, none of which resulted in a goal. Saturday’s assist was a team-high 16th.
And the goal boded well, as the Galaxy are nearly invincible when they score first, losing just once in 18 games. they are teeth They are undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park and Saturday’s win improves their record in Carson to 14-1-3 this season. Neither streak was in jeopardy in a match the Galaxy dominated from the start.
Outside back Mirei Yamane and Nelson combined to cut the lead to two points seven minutes into the second half. Yamane passed the ball into the box and passed it to Nelson, who was wide open, and Nelson connected with one foot. He then fired a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the goal. He scored the first goal of his six-year MLS career on a corner kick.
Two minutes later, Nelson’s pass was deflected by Jovezic at the top of the box and he easily scored with his right foot, finding Puig inside the pitch to make it 3-0.
After that, Jovezic and Puig equalized, Jovezic ran in on the rebound of Pec’s shot, dribbled through the top of the box to create space, and in the 75th minute beat Steffen cleanly with his left foot, giving Puig his second goal at 12 I gave a point. A few minutes later.
It was McCarthy’s seventh clean sheet of the season, but his first in two months.
