LA Galaxy edge Minnesota United to set up rubber-match “El Trafico” in the MLS Cup Semi-Finals
Coming into Sunday night the MLS Cup Playoffs had given the spectators plenty to talk about. It all came down to the last game of the night as the winner of Minnesota United and the Los Angeles Galaxy would clinch a berth to play MLS-best LAFC in a semi-final match up.
There wasn’t much that separated both teams, although Minnesota came out proving why they were the fourth seed. Minnesota found a way to neutralize Zlatan Ibrahimovic who spent most of the match arguing calls that weren’t going his way. By the half, Minnesota was the more dominant team owning 53% of possession. United had one clear shot on goal out of seven while Los Angeles had four shots with zero on target.
The second half was as intense and physical as the first with both teams struggling to open up the scoring. Minnesota would keep up the pressure and get their clearest opportunity in the 55th minute. Romain Métanire would play a beautiful cross into the 18 yard-box where Angelo Rodriguez’ header would go wide left.
It wouldn’t be too long before one of these teams would open up the scoring. In the 71st minute Cristian Pavon put a ball into play near the penalty spot trying to reach Zlatan. Ibrahimovic would first-touch his shot but it would deflect off a defender. Sebastian Lleget would keep the play alive however as he caught the rebound and put it in the back of the net, giving the visiting team a 1-0 lead. Just a few minutes later in the 75th minute, Jonathan Dos Santos would get a pass from Alessandrini that he would curl into the goal from outside the 18 yard-box to give Los Galacticos a 2-0 lead.
Nothing was for certain even with Los Angeles up two goals to nothing. Just three minutes after the Dos Santos Goal, Minnesota’s Métanire would filter a ball to Abu Danladi who would take a shot on goal but Bingham would get the stop to keep the 2-0 lead. In the 87th minute Ján Greguš would take a successful shot outside the box, cutting the lead in half but at the end the Galaxy would get the edge.
Los Angeles Galaxy will now fly home to visit MLS-best, LAFC, on Thursday night. Carlos Vela and company have not beaten Los Galacticos in the five match-ups since their debut. Jonathan dos Santos stated “I’m excited for the matchup to play LAFC and it will be a complicated game” via ESPN. LAFC will look to retire Zatlan from the MLS and get their first win over their cross-town rivals as the team from Carson will look to chase their sixth MLS Cup.
